A board backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday said it will counter-sue Disney over the state’s long-running dispute for authority of the entertainment giant’s central Florida theme park. …

Martin Garcia, chair of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, said during a meeting Monday that Disney left it with very few options after it launched its lawsuit last week.

“Disney sued us, we have no choice now but to respond,” he said. “The district will seek justice in state court here in central Florida where both it and Disney reside and do business.”

[Note the reference to “central Florida.” Disney filed its lawsuit in the Northern Florida district, hoping to get Judge Mark Walker to assign the case to himself — which he did. CFTOD wants the venue changed to the Middle District circuit, where it properly belongs, and where Disney can’t go judge-shopping. That in itself is a good reason for the counter-suit, but also the slimy and underhanded covenant that Disney got from the outgoing Reedy Creek District board is unlikely to survive scrutiny in a court without a judge who is already predisposed to oppose DeSantis. — Ed]