Edward Brown responds to residency challenge

ALBANY — Edward Brown, who handily won the state Senate District 12 seat that is being vacated by long-time Sen. Freddie Powell Sims, has responded to claims by challenger Corey Morgan that Brown is ineligible to hold office.

“Ed Brown is and has been a proud resident of Dougherty County, Georgia,” a statement from Brown’s attorney, Chris Cohilas, said. “He was born here. He was raised here. Following his education and work in Washington, D.C., he chose to return to his hometown and serve.

“He meets all of the legal requirements for residency and candidacy. Any assertion otherwise is simply false and designed to undermine the legitimacy of the overwhelming victory that Dr. Brown achieved over his opponents.” 

The statement continued: “To be clear, on May 19 the voters of Senate District 12 resoundingly chose Dr. Brown to be their next Senator. Dr. Brown that won by more than 3,700 votes in this historic election. 

“The unfortunate reality is that Dr. Brown’s opponent has not accepted that the voters of District 12 chose Dr. Brown and not himself.  Dr. Brown’s defeated opponent has now chosen to level baseless accusations via a very inflammatory social media campaign and through a series of staged publicity stunts.  This is disappointing, but not unexpected given Dr. Brown’s defeated opponent’s own personal history. It is this defeated opponent who was legally disqualified from seeking office in 2017 and legally removed from office in 2023– because he did not live where he claimed to live.”

The statement said Brown will defend his election victory against the smear campaign being conducted by Morgan and his supporters. 

“Any formal challenge to Dr. Brown’s qualifications will be vigorously defended and defeated,” the statement said. “Dr. Brown qualified to run. He is and has been a proud resident of the state of Georgia and Senate District 12. None of the false narratives advanced by Dr. Brown’s defeated opponent on social media and/or elsewhere will change that.“