Lawson mounts election challenge to Boyd

It’s official. FAMU alumnus and state Sen. Alfred “Al” Lawson plans to challenge Congressman Allen Boyd in 2010.

Sources close to Lawson tipped off reporters last Thursday. But, Lawson himself waited until this week to confirm his intentions.

Lawson came out swinging. He criticizes Boyd for supporting former U.S. President George W. Bush’s Wall Street bailout and voting against current U.S. President Barack Obama’s stimulus package.

As a self-described Blue Dog (or fiscal conservative) Democrat, Boyd frequently votes across party lines to shoot down what he sees as excessive government spending.

While Boyd has $1.2 million on hand from his previous campaign, Lawson still has the potential to be a formidable candidate.

In his more than 25 years as a state legislator, Lawson has attracted widespread support from the thousands of white-collar state employees in Tallahassee, whose jobs he has fought to protect against GOP-led cuts.

Through his long-running efforts to increase law enforcement office budgets throughout the Big Bend, he’s also amassed favor with many politically influential sheriffs and county commissioners.

And, as state Senate Democratic Leader, Lawson his picked up many IOUs by raising campaign money for his colleagues.

At 22 percent of the Congressional district’s voting population, Big Bend blacks will play a critical role in the election. Boyd is reminding constituents about how he’s secured millions in grant money for FAMU. However, Lawson’s long record of supporting FAMU will be another problem for the incumbent.

Lawson has thwarted numerous attempts to push FAMU out of the joint College of Engineering it operates with Florida State University and played a central role in bringing in money for projects such as the new teaching gymnasium and Developmental Research School building.

Lawson plans to formally file for candidacy and open a campaign account in the coming weeks.

Boyd opts against U.S. Senate run