Rep. Corrine Brown vows to fight new district maps

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown vows to fight a Florida judge's approval of new congressional maps.

Circuit Judge Terry Lewis, who earlier this year found Brown's District 5 and central Florida's District 10 unconstitutional, signed off on a new map that was redrawn by state legislators earlier this month that modifies seven of the 27 congressional districts.

Brown told News4Jax on Saturday that while a judge may have validated the legislature's new congressional map, the fight is far from over.

"Don't think that I'm not without resources;don't think that I won't have a civil rights attorney; do not think that I will not be involved at the local and state level, but at the national level," said Brown. "The Congressional Black Caucus understands that we are under attack."

Lewis ruled Brown's district -- which runs from Jacksonville to central Florida's Seminole County -- violated the state's fair district rules against political gerrymandering.

5th Congressional District before and after Florida Legislature's redistricting in 2014.The Florida Supreme Courtruledon July 9 lawmakers the new map, along with seven other districts in the state, still favors the incumbent.

The newly approved map (on right) removes Sanford from Brown's district and adds more of Putnam County.

"Sanford had people living out of their vans. Kids washing up going to school.  I was able to correct that. It took me a long time to get there. Public housing out of the red and in the black. So you're telling me that I shouldn't represent Sanford? It's not what a district looks like. It's whether or not you have representative government and that's what the people of Sanford have," said Brown.

Last week talking about the newly drawn district, Brown told News4Jax she was fine with the changes the Florida Legislature made.

"I am pleased with what the Legislature did following the direction of the judge," Brown said August 12 during a visit to The Morning Show. "I don't agree with what the judge indicated, but the Legislature followed it exactly."

Since the new districts aren't set to take effect until 2016, Brown says her focus right now is this year's election and getting voters to the polls.

"I'm saying take your 'Soul to the Poll,' and then come by here and vote," said Brown.