All-American football legend Lou Holtz endorsed Republican Vennia Francois for State Representative, District 45. Along with his many career accomplishments, Coach Holtz was also recently named Chairman of America First Policy Institute’s (AFPI) Center for 1776.
“I’m so excited that someone of Vennia Francois’ caliber is running for State Representative,” stated Coach Holtz. “There’s no doubt in my mind that she believes in the power of the American Dream and is committed to governing by the constitutional principles that made this nation great. I’m strongly behind her candidacy and I’m proud to endorse her.”
“I could not be more honored to have earned the endorsement and support of Coach Holtz,” said Francois. “He is a living legend who loves America and believes in American exceptionalism. His work at AFPI’s Center for 1776 ‘aims to promulgate American values in our education institutions.’Â I welcome their work.”
District 45 is an open seat in southwest Orange County and western Osceola County that includes parts of Winter Garden, Oakland, Windermere, O
Vennia lives in Windermere, is a commercial transactions attorney in Orlando, and a state officer for the Florida Federation of Republican Women. She serves on multiple non-profit boards, including Matthew’s Hope, Downtown Arts District, House of Hope, and the Civil Rights Studies Alliance. She graduated from Florida A&M School of Law, formerly worked for U.S. Senator Mel Martinez as a policy advisor, and at the U.S. SEC in consumer protection against fraudulent and deceptive financial practices.
Currently, there are five Republican candidates listed in District 45 including Francois, which could make the local politics interesting in the primary. The others are Carolina Amesty, Janet Frevola, Bruno Portigliatti, and Mike Zhao. Only one Democrat, Allie Braswell, is in the race.
