Will Jack Franks Be Bruce Rauner’s Lap Dog?

Bruce Rauner

Bruce Rauner

Last December Bruce Rauner talked about giving support to Republican candidates.

Presumably that would increase the strength of their backbones when he asked them to take tough votes.

Jack Franks

Jack Franks

Democrats like Jack Franks might be pacified, too, however.

What votes might Franks be willing to make in order to make sure that Rauner wouldn’t dump money into a Republican opponent’s campaign?

What if Bruce Rauner had wholeheartedly endorsed Steve Reick.

What if Bruce Rauner had wholeheartedly endorsed Steve Reick?  What if he declared, “I need Steve Reick to advance my agenda in Springfield?”

Franks’ margin of victory dropped considerably from 2010 when he was challenged by John O’Neill and this year when he was challenged by Steve Reick.

Republican candidate Bruce Rauner, who is expected to carry McHenry County, boosts the candidacy of State Rep. candidate Steve Reick, who is running against Democrat Jack Franks, in these billboards.

Republican candidate Bruce Rauner handily carried McHenry County. He could have boosted the candidacy of State Rep. candidate Steve Reick, who is running against Democrat Jack Franks more than this.

Franks’ victory percentage was 14th from the bottom of all Democrats elected State Representative…even though he scored 56.8%.

In 2010, he got almost 64%.

Franks didn’t spend a lot of money this year that he is willing to admit to.

There were the usual untraceable pop-up committees taking shots at his Republican opponent, but he pretty much sat on his money.

Reick spent something in the range of $30,000.

What if Reick had had enough money to make multiple mailings about the foibles of Jack Franks?
Reick mailing backMight Franks have been more nervous than he was this year?

I rather think so.

Think of a mailing on each of the bullet points on Reick’s mailing below:

Most of what Reick points to as negatives for Franks could be easily expanded upon.

The one on voting to allow Com Ed to raise electric bills would hit  home, I would think.

So would his request to put family members in appointive positions.  Most people would call that “patronage.”

Franks Partonage Req Memo 2-27-03

Memo to Rod Blagojevich about putting family and friends on state boards, commissions and in state jobs.  Some did get jobs and you’ll see them on the state payroll articles in the coming days.

After eight mailings, one on each topic in Reick’s list, Franks’ percentage could be under 50%.


Comments

Will Jack Franks Be Bruce Rauner’s Lap Dog? — 13 Comments

  1. Cal, Cal:

    Once again you missed the real story.

    While we would all prefer a fire breathing Republican in the seat, the reality is that Madigan holds the veto over ride by one vote in the House.

    That vote is Jack Franks, who represents the most heavily Republican seat in the state held by a Democrat.

    Madigan never took care of Jacjk as he should have, and now is the time for Rauner to reach across the aisle and work with Jack.

    Next to Rauner, he is the most powerful guy in the Patch now.

    Jack can be a natural recruit into the Republican party, given his business background and that he has been a victim of Madigan’s treachery.

    Anyway, his ability to negotiate good deals for the County in the next two years make him a potential brinksman.

    Please Cal, we will get more flies with honey than we will with vinegar.

    Jack Franks, Republican for Attorney General 2018 sounds good.

  2. Jack won by over 50% without running a campaign- you are delusion to think this past race represented anything else.

    Like it or not, Jack works well with the other elected officials and is a powerful person with a central ideology and a conservative fiscal policy.

    A Republican in that chair would be Powerless, and have no influence.

    I fund it fascinating that no one ever wants to look at the self serving conduct of numerous REPUBLICAN elected officials in this county- Your county- you know that impacts your tax bill.

    The patronage among the Township offices, the sweet heart deals to friends and family, the land deals behind close doors.

    Come on Cal- at least if you are going to claim to be a watch dog- watch both sides of the house.

  3. Franks is such a sickening creep …… liar …… fake ….. runyon …..

    Even folks in his synagogue view him with suspicion and skepticism . …….

  4. Jack will be remembered forever for beating George Ryan and the Culture of Corruption’s Stooge and then beaing a little pervert.

    If the local Republicans went with talent instead of lapdogs we wouldn’t have Democrats winning out here.

    I still can’t understand how Schaffer could draw his own district and still lose.

  5. Interesting, Item 11 on Jack Franks request to the Governor.

    the election before last, The Harvard School District started cutting sports and other extra curriculum from the school budget.

    Due to lack of funds……….

    Now at about the same time jack Franks was pushing for an elected office for County Board Chairman
    which he didn’t get..then…

    then all of a sudden the Harvard school board came up with enough money to hire, for a newly created job Called public outreach or public relations…

    Bill Clow was already hired for this position before it the job was even advertised..

    So my question is…did Jack Franks influence the school board?

  6. Everything you need to know about Illinois, is right there in that jobs request list.

  7. I wonder if Charles Nelson and everyone else who voted for Jack Franks is in fact the stupidity of the American voter that Jonathon Gruber and Obama relies upon.

    They define that group of stupid voters.

  8. Well, let’s figure this out: What is in the best interest of Jack Franks?

    If you answer that question, you’ll answer all the questions regarding Jack Franks.

    Charlie Nelson?

    That political hack is back?

    Well, I’m sure Jack Franks is happy to have that “RINO” back supporting him.

  9. Nelson is hardly a RINO …skeptic shows he doesn’t know what he’s yammering about.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *