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While mayoral candidate Andy Shallal has been cruising the faculty lounge for endorsements, rival Muriel Bowser is taking it to the hoop. On Monday, Bowser’s campaign will host a fundraiser headlined by ex-University of Maryland and Houston Rockets player Steve Francis.
Francis, who grew up in Takoma Park, hasn’t been looking his best lately. Still, he promises to bring an exciting edge to Bowser’s campaign. In the video above, for example, “Stevie Franchise” shows off his tattoos and rubs his hands menacingly for the camera while District rapper Fat Trel mixes Hennessy with Pepsi.
The Bowser campaign’s invite recommends a minimum $50 donation to the event at the Westin Georgetown. Hopefully the fundraiser will go better than a Francis nightclub appearance last year, when the ex-star ended up in cuffs after another player tried to choke him.
If Francis is excited about Bowser’s campaign, though, it’s not clear the enthusiasm goes the same way. A media email promoting the event today identified Francis as “Steve Harris.” When LL tried to find out earlier this week whether the “Steve Francis” on an earlier invite was Steve Francis from the NBA, campaign manager Bo Shuff wasn’t sure.
“I don’t really keep track of every single former NBA player,” Shuff says.