Jack Franks, petitions in hand, stands in front of his 2012 County Fair Tent. Photo Credit: Friend of McHenry County Blog.
A person commenting under my article about Republicans who would like to be elected McHenry County Board Chairman in December of 2014, wrote,
“Franks has already announced — as reported by the Northwest Herald and the Daily Herald — that he has no interest in the position.
“I assume you won’t believe it, since it’s not a conspiratorially entertaining.
“But seriously, it would be a big step down anyway.”
My thoughts:
Guess you have never endured the commute to Springfield for 25% of the weeks of the year.
And perhaps you don’t have children in their teen years, which I believe Jack does.
Being McHenry County Executive would bring Franks more power than he has now.
And, although he has shown lots of interest in advancing to statewide office, even getting himself “mentioned” for Governor after he, his family and friends put about a half million into his campaign fund right before the end of reporting in June of 2007, it is my opinion that he cannot win a statewide primary election…even with Aldermen Ed Burke’s and Dick Mell’s support.
So, what does that leave as alternative for climbing up the political ladder?
A Federal judgeship?
Fascinating idea if Franks had not supported Hillary Clinton. I hear that Obama has a long memory and that Franks doesn’t get phone calls returned from the Administration.
State Senator?
Does Pam Althoff, climbing the leadership ladder in the State Senate, look as if she is about to retire?
And if she does, Franks would probably have to face off against State Rep.-to-be Barb Wheeler. That wold not be an automatic victory for Franks, even though he drew the map to take State Rep. Mike Tryon out of Franks’ state senate district.
It seems to me, at minimum, Franks is “keeping his options” open, as politicians put it.
Totally agree with this assessment.
Excellent analysis.
Your own career gives insight that the gnomes at the newspapers just don’t have.
Mainstream media just doesn’t get it.
They are so socially connected with people on the left, they perpetuate the stories that assist their side.
They do so unwittingly, not because of a conspiracy, as some of you liberals reading this suggest.
That’s their social network.
The wordview of their social network keeps them locked into one ideology and they can’t think outside their box.
Cal has articulated the most plausable reason to explain why Franks is working so hard for this.
The papers just regurgitate Franks’ and Nygren’s talking points.
That’s why I say this blog has more legitimate political discussion than all the papers combined.
Here is a perfect example with real life insight.
No talking points.
No spin.
No angle.
No elected person is going to do anything for anybody else except themselve. GO JACK
Cal, your thoughts clarify perfectly. Thank you.
Jack of course he isn’t… He obviously forgot the Oath he took when he got put into office, and forgot that our constitution is founded on the principle of the people as the governing masses.
Well when you manipulate the people for your own self interest, then you should be removed.
Just like you would be removed if you didn’t do your job in a company.
Cal, “keeping his options” open?
The case you laid out sounds more like he “has nowhere else to go” like Richard Gere in An Officer and a Gentleman.
Is the County Exec really that much more powerful as I commented on in the post where Cal posted the powers of the County Exec?
It must be otherwise why would he make the investment?
Someone is trying to leave comments in defense of Jack Franks using the name “Cal Skinner.”
Needless to say, if my name is on a comment, I’d like to be the one making it.
If the impostor would like to use another screen name, I have no problem posting comments favorable to Franks.
Maybe he won’t have interest in 2014 (per your story), but you may want to speculate on 2012 first….
There is no election for County Executive in 2012.
A change in the form of county government would have to be approved before an election would be held, so 2014 is the earliest a County Executive could be elected.
Typical lackluster condemnation of the so-called mainstream media – i.e., journalists that ascribe to some standard.
You know those pesky things like: finding sources, asking for comment, doing the most rudimentary research, etc. No talking points or spin?
Do you actually read this blog or did you stumble upon it yesterday?
That’s practically all it is.
It’s the daily ramblings of a disgruntled political nemesis.
Your “analysis” has no basis in fact.
Pure wild speculation, no more.
While all those may be options, you’re the one floating them.
Not Franks.
And you guessed wrong about the commute, Cal. I’m more than familiar.
In all honesty, how would this position give Franks more power? I’d argue that the – reasonably high – media profile Franks has developed would dissolve if he took this step down. You disagree?
How would ANYONE call the Northwest Herald’s editorial staff liberal….
Compared to what?
Attilla the Hun?
Maybe Jack is floating this for simple reason he can.
In 2014 Jack’s sons will be in college or damn near.
The position in NO WAY is more power- Are you kidding?
Look at his committee assignments.
You are way overstating Barb Wheeler ability to win a county wide seat. She is walking into the house because no one put up a challenger ( Republicans included) not because she has proven she can win a big race.
People in this county- particularly the conservative right, are tired of the concentration of power that has happened on the county board.
How is it in a county that is supposed to be the last bastian of Republicanism in Illinois, the automatic winner of a County wide race for Chairman would be Jack?
How do we know that You don’t run, Cal?
Or Donna Kurtz who has proven to be a hard campaigner.
Or Mike Tryon who is just as susceptible to all your logic- long commute, more power better pay, AND HISTORY in the job….
My money is on Jack running for Secretary of State with, Jessie’s blessing, when the time comes.
Jack for Secretary of State with Jesse White’s endorsement.
Well, that’s a new one for me.
If he does, remember you read it on McHenry County Blog’s comment section first.
Possible, I guess, since he goes fishing with Jesse and other Chicago politicians in Canada during the summer.
I still don’t think Franks can win a statewide primary, even though his moves to the left on abortion (endorsed by the pro-abortion Personal PAC in 2008 and 2010) and homosexual rights (voting for civil unions, etc.) seems aimed to please crucial statewide Democratic Party constituencies.
And regarding manipulation for personal gain, apparently you have never followed local politics in this county Melissa.
Really followed them, whom is related to whom… whose company wins what contracts.
Whose children end up in what jobs.
Whose wife works where…. Jack has served this community for 12 years with no one coming even close to unseating him.
To me, that says the “the people as the governing masses” are satisfied even if you aren’t.
If you think a better job can be done, I suggest you start now preparing for a race in 2014.
Or if Cal is correct, plan to run for the unoccupied seat.
He is, despite what many who post here think, an exceptionally moderate Democrat.
He couldn’t represent this county otherwise.
ANd who knows in the current climate- a strong candidate- not to far right or left but soundly in the middle.
Not everyone votes for public office based on personal moral issues, (as you mentioned above)
Some conservatives believe in less government infringement INCLUDING keeping the government out of my bedroom and body.
That is a more pure ideology if you ask me.
I don’t understand why many of the posts here talk about the constitution but then undercut their own position.
I don’t see anywhere in the constitution that is says married is between a man and woman or that abortion is illegal.
I understand your position as one of your personal faith- but the same constitution protects freedom of religion… and personal faith- yours, mine or anyone eles is not to be mandated.
If your belief is that marriage is sacred- ban divorce, not committed loving couples of the same sex.
If you want to quote the Bible about the sin of Homosexuality, then ban football on Sundays- (both touching the skin of a pig and working on Sunday.)
Or stop having sex in your marriage if you are no longer intending to procreate.
It is the inconsistency of the positions that make the arguments flawed for me.
I respect your opinion as your own, even though it is not aligned with mine.
It is unfortunate that happens so rarely on this blog.
And exactly what investment has he made?
It is Michael Walkup- who is making that claim.
Since this whole post is devoted to floating conspiracy theories with no burden of proof – how about this one: this is an attempt to force the local, entrenched political establishment (not all the GOP, mind you) to waste their time opposing this proposal – thereby keeping them from the various, albeit few, contested county board races.
The County Board could have prevented this by approving their own – more “palatable” referendum – but they found it more convenient to bow the will of King Koehler.
Gotta make you wonder if you picked the correct villain, Cal/Mike/Melissa
An investment of political capital.
The County Executive Referendum on the ballot in Nov is due to Rep Franks efforts.
Twice On his district office billboard he had messages supporting this and his people circulated petitions to put this on the ballot at the County Fair.
I wouldn’t call a career change from state legislator to at-large county chairman/executive is a step down.
DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin started this trend of longtime state legislators becoming county chief executive officers.
State Senator Chris Lauzen, barring a major upset in November, looks to do the same.
If this is where Jack Franks wants to run next, he’d be in good company.
Fair enough, but I also wouldn’t call it a step up.
A side step, perhaps.
In a much smaller county what DuPage.
than*
In case you want to know where I got my information on how much Franks is willing to spend on this referendum campaign, it was from the horse’s mouth at the County Fair.
(Hint, there are no horses at our County Fair).
Here’s what a Jack Franks county executive slogan should be: “Vote Yes, for the best county chairman money can buy!”
Now the anonymous commenter returns with an OK comment, but still wanting to use a version of my name.
Pick another, please, and up your comment will go.
Mike is surreeeee gullible.
Cal,
You are so far off base as this is purely speculative and has no basis in reality.
You support your claim that Franks could not have a Federal Judgeship because: A. He endorsed Clinton who, might I remind you, is now part of the Obama administration and B. Franks’ calls are not returned from the White House where, might I remind you again, Clinton is now part of the Staff. So, if I may follow your logic, Obama is not going to give Franks a Judgeship because someone from his own staff who he formerly ran against years ago was endorsed by a State politician, not federal, ought to be looked over. Doesn’t your analysis completely glaze over Franks’ legal career which probably weighs more in an interview than, lets say, a political endorsement for qualification? Furthermore, what is your source for his phone calls that aren’t returned? How would you know Franks’ personal phone records or who he was calling and when they were calling him (or in your case) not calling him back?
You support that he would want to run for County Executive because it takes a long time to drive to Springfield and he has teenagers – hardly a political reason to run for local office – despite the fact that he PUBLICLY and ON THE RECORD stated that he would not run for higher office just last week – more of a political reason, maybe?
Finally, you argue that Franks drew the map so that Tryon was out of District when it was really House Redistricting Committee members of
Barbara Flynn Currie (D), Chairperson, Mike Fortner (R), Republican Spokesperson, Edward Acevedo (D), Marlow Colvin (D), Jim Durkin (R), Lou Lang (D), Frank Mautino (D), Chapin Rose (R), Timothy Schmitz (R), Jill Tracy (R), and Karen Yarbrough (D) who were on the House Redistricting Committee. No where is Franks mentioned in any of those listed names further refuting your point about State Senator.
So all that said, am I really too far off base to block the moderation of my comment or do you just not like detailed, fact based analysis and the deconstruction of your shanty arguments?
This sounds pretty much like what a commenter with a fake email was trying to post using my last name.
Now that you have picked one of your own, up it goes.
I would suggest you are a bit naive about the reapportionment process.
I admit to third hand sources of information with regard to returned calls from the Obama White House.