On his blog Illoyances, Republican State Rep. candidate Steve Reick reflects on the forces who tried to keep him off the ballot.

The reason for the effort by those behind front man Ronald Eck, a Carpenters Union Business Manager, is pretty clear.

Jack Franks wants to be like Mike.

Mike Madigan, that is.

Madigan regularly puts patsies on the Republican Party primary ballot.

They do nothing, of course, freeing up Madigan to make sure he gets enough Democrats elected state representative to re-elect him House Speaker.

Jack Franks has been one of those votes for the last eighteen years.

After that long, why should Franks have to worry about a Republican opponent.

It takes a lot of work to put up yard signs in people’s yards without asking their permission.

This vehicle says its owner is a Republican for Jack Franks.

And printing “Republican for Jack Franks” bumper stickers cost money.

Better to have a guy who will roll over and play dead.

Close-up of Jack Franks’ 2014 yard signs in front of Jeffrey Lichte’s home taken by Google as its camera person went down Steve Reick opponent’s street.

And probably show up as much as Mike Madigan’s faceless Republican opponents.

Here’s part of Steve Reick’s post:

Since early December, my nominating petitions have been under challenge by Mike MadiganJack FranksJeffrey Lichte (the Democrat whose name will also appear on the Republican primary ballot), or some combination thereof.

A certain Ronald Eck’s name appears on the actual challenge filed with the State Board of Elections, but Mr. Eck is nothing more than a convenient toady Jack Franks calls upon when he doesn’t want his own name to be associated with a particular piece of political hatchet work.

The complaint alleged that my petitions did not contain a sufficient number of valid signatures of registered voters (500) to allow my name to be placed on the ballot.

Read the whole article.