Republican Willing to Bet Jack Franks Will Run for County Board Chairman

Jack Franks had to run to catch his vehicle at the Johnsburg roundabout.

Jack Franks had to run to catch his vehicle at the Johnsburg roundabout.

I have often written of the possibility of State Rep. Jack Franks running for County Board Chairman.

Oh, I know that he said he wouldn’t, but, if he decides to do so, it won’t be the first campaign promise he has broken,

After all, when he first ran for the Illinois House in 1998, he promised to limit himself to three terms.

We know what how well the nine-term legislator kept that campaign ledge.

I have heard that Franks has approached various Republicans seeking support.

Mike Walkup was carrying a sign for County Board in the Johnsburg Parade.

Mike Walkup was carrying a sign for County Board in the Johnsburg Parade.

So far, I haven’t heard of anyone from the GOP climbing on board, but there were Republican Precinct Committeeman who supported the nominally Independent candidacy of James Harrison for Sheriff over Republican Bill Prim.

Now, I have a prominent Republican saying he is willing to bet me cash that Franks will run for County Board.

Somehow I doubt that he would have the courage to run for both offices, although legally I believe he could.

I can’t think of a Democrat in his State Rep. district prominent enough to beat Republican Steve Reick, who is something of a unifying factor in that area.

McHenry County Republican Chairman Sandra Salgado, GOP House Leader Jim Durkin and State Rep. candidate Steve Reick conferred at the Johnsburg Community Club the Sunday before the Primary Election.

McHenry County Republican Chairman Sandra Salgado, GOP House Leader Jim Durkin and State Rep. candidate Steve Reick conferred at the Johnsburg Community Club the Sunday before the Primary Election.

But Franks does have a half million dollars in the bank and Republican nominee Mike Walkup has close to zilch.

Another indicator of Franks’ intentions to forego the long commute to Springfield are letters he is undoubtedly stimulating to the Northwest Herald trashing Walkup.


Comments

Republican Willing to Bet Jack Franks Will Run for County Board Chairman — 19 Comments

  1. If Walkup can not practice law because he is so allergic to paper that he receives disability income, how in the world can he lead our County?

  2. If Franks doesn’t run for state legislator (you said you don’t think he’ll run for both) he’d practically be giving the seat to a Republican.

    And if Franks pulled out I’m sure Rauner would throw money into this race.

    Franks obviously has loyalty to the Democratic Party otherwise he wouldn’t run as a Democrat in a heavily Republican district and he wouldn’t have been a delegate for Hillary, who lost big in McHenry County.

    Unless your birdie is Steve Reick, I’d take this bet.

  3. Mike Walkup is a lawyer who is allergic to paper?

    SERIOUSLY?

    Only the best of the best for McHenry County…

  4. He’s not allergic, he has a sensitivity to ink on paper.

  5. Walkup is a refreshing change from the status quo politicians that have occupied the county chairman’s seat from time to time.

    Frank’s epitomizes status quo politics at its worst, and exemplifies self-serving politics at its finest.

    That contrast alone gives Walkup a major advantage..not to mention, Walkup is super smart, brave, and honest.

    Love to see him take on Franks so we can get rid of Franks once and for all.

  6. Now he wants to change Teams…

    there are no bounds for this desperate status quo politician…

    nothing shocks me any more…

    just gets sicker and sicker..

  7. Now he wants to change Teams

    Huh? Who said anything about Franks wanting to change teams?

    Ya’ll know that there already is a Republican running for Chairman, right?

  8. heh, heh ….Jacko ‘stimulating’ the letters-to-the-editor that nobody reads in the dying NWH?

    Pshaw … Jacko’s writing them HIMSELF!

  9. If any of you think that Walkup is tough to beat in a race, you are more disconnected then I originally believed.

    Frank’s has won 9 elections.

    Walkup was a Dem, then not.

    Was a lawyer, then not, then was when it served his campaign…..

    He has people protesting in front of his house for goodness sake.

    You all may hate Frank’s but north I’d 60% have elected him for going on 18 years.

    Joe G lost more than Walkup won.

    @Andy, go home, your drunk.

  10. You are no longer saying that Jack Franks’ running for County Board Chairman is ridiculous.

  11. Inish,

    You forget Franko’s district doesn’t include all of McHenry County.

    Franko had his district jerrymandered to include the county’s rural and some of the poorer communities in McHenry County.

    Marengo, Harvard, Wonder Lake-all communities that have suffered from the recession while affordable affordable housing has increased.

    The good ole boys are strong (supporting Franko for years) in the Norwest, but that’s only 1/6th of the county.

    Trump was a Democrat and now he’s leading the GOP.

    The Tea Party portion of the GOP is open for an end to the corrupt system.

  12. Jim, the county board uses iPads for their documents.

    And no county board member has to slave over a xerox machine.

  13. Mike Walkup is a Democrat-turned-RINO.

    Jack Franks is a Democrat.

    I predicted from the beginning that if Mike Walkup became the “Republican” for County Board Chairman, his weakness as a candidate and lack of electability would draw Jack Franks like blood in the water…

  14. Who wants Walkup

    he is not even good as a business person

    how is he going to run the county?

    That’s right straight into the ground.

    He severed valley hi at the jugular and will do same to the county.

    Living off disability and taking in foreign exchange students to work on his so called farm.

    So how do we did our county of this garbage.

  15. I still think there is another card in this play .

    This sounds like a lot of distraction.

    If Frank’s runs for county board he gives up. His state rep run, isnt that what you have been asking for?

    Walkup isn’t change, he is stagnation.

    Frank’s has millions because he has personal success.

    Show me where Walkup has been personally successful.

    I am sick of people who can’t manage their own lives living of government pay checks while they criticize government employees.

    McClelland, now Walkup lawyers who couldn’t make.

    Living as lawyers making big money they could never make in the private sector.

    That is the measure of talent ……

    Would the market pay Walkup to run a multi million company….

    No way possible.

    You may not like Frank’s but he at least has the experience to manage the county…..

    you really want Walkup to represent this county on the state level?……

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