Jack Franks Now Free to Help Democrats Running for the McHenry County Board

Still thinking about the implications of the McHenry County GOP interview committee’s decision to reject Tonya Franklin’s offer to run a high energy campaign against 7-term incumbent Democrat Jack Franks.

"Chainsaw Jack" Franks is singing "Hakuna Matata" today after learning the McHenry County Republican Party will give him his third free ride in four elections.

Today Jack Franks is sighing a big “Whew.”

The reason?

The gift given freely by the McHenry County Republican Central Committee for the third time in four elections.

Once by then-Chairman and County Treasurer Bill LeFew and twice now by Chairman and State Rep. Mike Tryon.

Until this morning I was just focusing on the potential impact of legislative campaigns elsewhere in Illinois.

That’s not quite right.

I did point out that the manpower-starved Central Committee with Precinct Committeeman vacancies all over McHenry County would benefit from an infusion of Tea Party supporters for Tonya Franklin.

Tonya Franklin

Rather than all of those energetic folks going to Wisconsin to support a cause not yet espoused by Republicans in Illinois, some of them might be working Tonya Franklin, if she were running for state rep.  (This is so reminiscent of how Illinois Republicans, led by Governor Jim Thompson, missed the Reagan Revolution.)

But most of my thoughts had been focused on Jack Franks’ traveling all over the state trying to ingratiate himself to Democrats running for state rep and state senate.

You know, trying to make sure Mike Madigan remains House Speaker and John Cullerton Senate President.

But that’s no problem for the Republican-dominated McHenry County.

“Hakuna Matata.”

And, along the way Franks would picking up chits for whatever statewide office he wants to spend his $450,000 war chest on.

Are Republicans willing to wait for Franks to make such an exit from the 63rd District?

“Hakuna Matata.”

Another thought popped into my head this morning.

The leaders of the Republican Party probably don’t know it, but Jack Franks has gone to go door-to-door for candidates other than himself.

Four years ago, for instance, he campaigned actively for Mary Margaret Maule in the McHenry-dominated District 4.  Franks had no opponent then.

Jack Franks

Maule is coming back for a second try this year.

“Hakuna Matata.”

Franks has already contributed to the campaign fund of District 6 Operating Engineers’ member Ryan Heuse, so he has a stake in his winning.

“Hakuna Matata.”

Six years ago, Franks campaigned actively in McHenry County for Melissa Bean against David McSweeney. We know how that turned out.

No opponent then.

What did it take to turn Melissa Bean out of office?

Tea Party candidate Joe Walsh.

We wouldn’t want to try that approach again, though, would we?

“Hakuna Matata.”

If Franks is really interested in running for County Board Chairman (look for article about his robo-call survey on the subject later today), he might take the freedom of having no worries and campaign for Nick Chirkos in District 1.

Goodness knows that Republican incumbent Bob Bless has about as many problems as he can juggle.

“Hakuna Matata.”

Or, heaven forbid, even get involved in District 2 County Board races, where the Democrats will be trying to knock of County Board Chairman Ken Koehler using alleged conflict of interest charges.

Already Jim Roden, who fought Metra‘s attempt to buy property in Ridgefield that Koehler half-owned

And, Roden went to the C0unty Board meeting last week to call out Koehler for his son’s being head of a housing entity that could benefit from County action.

But McHenry County Republicans have little or no interest in making sure Jack Franks stays in his district.

“Hakuna Matata.”

In discussing what I consider an abrogation of Republican Party responsibility to make sure that Franks has an opponent, one person pointed out that Republican Barb Wheeler has no opponent and maybe a deal has been cut to reciprocate.

While possible, I don’t think that’s the reason for making Jack Franks happy for the rest of his life, to paraphrase the Disney song.


Comments

Jack Franks Now Free to Help Democrats Running for the McHenry County Board — 28 Comments

  1. Barb Wheeler has no opponent because she is an outstanding candidate, extremely knowledgeable on a wide variety of issues, very conservative, has lived and taught in the Lake County portion of her district and shown herself to be an outstanding member of the McHenry County Board. Enough said.

  2. You know… if Ms. Franklin was so passionate about running against Franks, maybe she should have done the work to get on the primary ballot.

  3. Thank you Cal. Since I am not able to run against Franks, I will have plenty of

    time to go out and work against the candidates he is supporting. I will be

    sure to spread the word who they campaign for. I am focused and ready to

    work. Nov. 2012!

  4. Jim Bishop is right. Barbara Wheeler is the perfect candidate. She’d be far too tough for anyone to beat – Republican or Democrat – and that’s why she’s unopposed in both the primary and the general elections.

    Enough of the conspiracy theories.

    I think the explanation that the Republican leadership is incompetent more than explains why Franklin wasn’t supported.

  5. Dave I have no problem with doing the work.

    I was asked to run because the Republican Party failed to find a candidate to run.

  6. I would also add that the main issues of concern came up after the Primary in

    January of this year when Jack Franks became known as Draino Jack and of

    course my personal favorite….Chainsaw Jack.

  7. **I would also add that the main issues of concern came up after the Primary in January**

    Umm…the primary was in March.

    With that said, I think it is pretty silly that the McHenry County GOP won’t slate you (or someone else).

    Of course, I wouldn’t vote for either Republican running in that case…

  8. One bill that received interest from some of our members is Rep. Franks Utility Damage Prevention Act (also being referred to as the ComEd Clear Cut bill), HB 3884.

    The bill would give ComEd the authority to remove trees that grow 25 feet or higher and located within 20 of power lines.

    The bill was heard in the House Public Utilities Committee on March 6, 2012 and received a lot of opposition from local government and environmental groups.

    Rep. Franks did not request a vote on the bill and it remains in the Public Utilities Committee.

    I didn’t want to quote the date but I knew it was after the first of the year.

  9. Thank you for pointing out the obvious.

    I guess I should be more clear that I know when the primary is held.

    Considering I did vote.

  10. There is nothing like going down without a fight.

    Maybe Tonya can figure out how to go up against Jack AND against the Republican “machine” in McHenry County!

    Somebody needs to.

  11. If you want to get really activist, go on the McHenry County Clerk website, find out which precincts make up the district.

    Then look up the precinct committeemen in those precincts and call them or better yet go knock on their doors.

    They shouldn’t really mind being bothered at home since that is what they do when they walk their precincts, that is IF they walk their precincts.

    I wonder, if all of the Precinct Committeemen were to vote to appoint Ms Franklin as Republican Nominee, could the McHenry County GOP put a stop to it?

  12. Does anybody know who was at the meeting?

    Wouldn’t it have made sense for the Committeeman from Jack’s district to have been invited?

    I thought I maybe wasn’t invited because I am an appointed committeeman, but after talking to a couple of elected committeeman from this district I found out that none of them knew about it either.

  13. Present besides myself on Wed. evening was Mark Daniel, Geri Davis, Fred Wickham and Pam Palmer.

    Saturday Mike Tryon attended as well as Mark Daniel and Geri Davis and several others.

    More attended last Saturday than Wed.

    I was under the impression that Wed. we were only meeting for a vote on whether I would be appointed to run.

    When I got there, my supporters were asked to leave and the door was locked behind them.

    I was told it was inappropriate for them to be there by Geri Davis, even my daughter was asked to leave and I had told them she rode with me.

  14. So let me get this straight.

    The McHenry County Republican Party leadership excluded Republican Precinct Committeemen from these meetings to decide who would be slated for the fall ticket!?

    I can understand Geri Davis’ description of “inappropriate” if these supporters of Ms. Franklin were not committeemen, but I’m sure some of these supporters were committeemen, right?

    Sad state if this is true concerning McHenry County Republican Party leadership.

    It’s long overdue for county party chairmen to be elected by popular vote in the primary to be held accountable for the decisions like this slating one, as well as the appointment of a state representative who couldn’t win the primary.

  15. I am a Committeeman in Jack Frank’s District and I was not invited but My curiosity arises in the fact that Pam Palmer was there and we have not had an under ten committee board vote…. Either way what’s done is done.

  16. Geri Davis RUNS the Republican Party.

    This is a reality and has been true since Jourdan stepped down.

    The others have titles to make themselves feel important but they really do nothing.

    I think Dee Beaubien needs another award from Geri Davis for Dee’s loyalty to the Party.

  17. The Oncoming Storm says: “It’s long overdue for county party chairmen to be elected by popular vote in the primary to be held accountable for the decisions like this slating one, as well as the appointment of a state representative who couldn’t win the primary.”

    PLEASE!!

    The Republican Party is a private organization and there is NO reason for the Chairman to be popularly elected.

    If that were the case, couldn’t you just see Jack Franks run for “Republican” Charirman just to mess with everybody?

    How do you think a “popularly elected” Republican Party chairman (or County Board chairman for that matter) would be held accountable by the voters?

    The majority of voters are so darn apathetic with only 17% bothering to vote IN A PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY. Do you think the voters would know what issues to hold a chairman accountable for?

    Could the average voter even name a chairman?

    For that matter, do you think the average voter could even name their State Rep? State Senator? Congressman?

    HELL NO!

    I would wager that the majority of registered voters could not correctly identify the current Vice President.

  18. Agreed George.

    This is one of my issues with Jack Franks.

    The board is elected by us.

    We obviously felt they were qualified.

    They should choose the best person for the job within the board.

    Franks wants to buy another position.

    He has the money since he won’t be spending it fighting me in the next election.

    Sorry McHenry County…..I tried to help.

  19. George said the “The Republican Party is a private organization and there is NO reason for the Chairman to be popularly elected.” My response to George — BULLSHIT!

    If the Republican or Democratic parties were to be regarded as “private organizations”, then why do my tax dollars fund the election of political party officials, or the nominations of public officials for elections!?!

    The political parties lost their complete “private organization” status the Illinois statutes identified “established political parties”.

    If the political parties were truly private organizations, they would fund the nomination of public officials for the fall ballot (like is done in other states), as well as the election of precinct committeemen, township committeemen and ward committeemen.

    And given the county chairmen of the established political parties decide vacancies in public office, they should be accountable to all primary voters, not just precinct committeemen.

    As for Franks’ push for at-large election of the McHenry County Board Chairman, this is not needed under McHenry County’s current governance model, including a full time county administrator, and multi-member districts of representation (every McHenry County voter has direct voting for 4 members of a 24-member board).

    Glad we agree on something (though for diffrerent reasons).

  20. Mike Tryon is a disgrace.

    Bad enough he gets nothing done in Springfield and just sits around mooching a state paycheck.

    Now he can’t even lift a finger for a Republican woman who would make a much better state rep than Tryon’s ever been.

    He would much rather protect his Democrat buddies.

    Shame on the sheep who keep electing Mike Tryon.

    You spineless wonders are just as much at fault.

  21. Why must everyone hide their identity on here? Am I the only one with the

    nerve to step forward. I am perfect for the job….that is why they won’t let

    me in. 😉 I win anyways.

  22. Tonya Franklin says: Why must everyone hide their identity on here? Am I the only one with the nerve to step forward.

    Tonya, you are not the only one with the nerve to step forward.

    I appreciate your effort in attempting to run.

    I sure hope they’ve got somebody primed to run or else it will be 2006 & 2008 all over again.

  23. Keep the faith John….I never really give up.

    My path was chosen for me.

    We don’t have to keep beating our heads into the brick wall here in McHenry County.

    I have never applied for a job I didn’t get.

  24. You never give up Ms. Franklin?

    Sounds like you’ve never even started.

    Interviewing to be the Republican candidate with a some party officials on a Wednesday evening doesn’t sound like a lot of work.

    If you truly care about serving the people, then do it.

    Get involved.

    Learn about the issues.

    Get some signatures, knock on some doors, prove that you are qualified to those who matter- the people.

    Drop the whiney-poor-me attitude and blaming others for your lack of initiative and then maybe you’ll get somewhere.

  25. My attitude and blaming others?

    Saying I never give up is a far cry from whining.

  26. Elaine I would ask why aren’t you running?

    Where are all the candidates?

    Nobody wants to run and when someone volunteers, you try to insult.

    You weren’t in the meeting and you clearly have no idea what is going on.

    Get more involved Elaine.

    Prove you know what you are talking about.

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