In Quest for Power, Jack Franks Tries to Backdoor County Executive Form of Government

Some took a knife or box cutter to this "Vote No County Executive Referendum."

Some took a knife or box cutter to this “Vote No County Executive Referendum” from the No County Czar committee.

There was a referendum put on the ballot by Jack Franks a couple of years ago to impose the County Executive form of government on McHenry County.

It failed.

The County Executive form of government would give the county chairman power similar to that of a village president.

Or a township supervisor.

Pretty absolute as far aa administration goes.

The sign from a so-called "Republican Party" group to which no one admits belonging, but whose art work was used by State Rep. Jack Franks in his handouts in support of his County Executive referendum.

The sign was from a so-called “Republican Party” group to which no one admits belonging, but whose art work was used by State Rep. Jack Franks in his handouts in support of his County Executive referendum.

Vigorously opposed by the Republican Party, Franks’ referendum failed.

The 2012 vote failed 64.4% to 35.6%. The ballots wer 75,118 to 41,563.

Now, Franks asks the Board to relinquish much of the power that it currently by adding the following to its County Board Rules:

“The Chairman shall be responsible for the operation of the County Administrator’s Office and County Board staff.”

This change was not mentioned to Board members during the swearing in meeting on Monday.


Comments

In Quest for Power, Jack Franks Tries to Backdoor County Executive Form of Government — 21 Comments

  1. I like how Cal and Mark are trying to dispell criticism
    Of Walkup et al who lost.

    Give governance a chance.

  2. The sentence, “The Chairman shall be responsible for the operation of the County Administrator’s Office and County Board staff,” was in the March 1, 2011 McHenry County Board Rules.

    http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/Home/ShowDocument?id=46864

    Not sure when it first appeared, or when it was removed, or why.

    The records of the Management Services Committee or some long serving or former Board Members may know more of the history.

  3. Perhaps the sentence was removed in order to fulfill the voters’ wishes of the Chair not having executive powers.

    “The Chairman shall be responsible for the operation of the County Administrator’s Office and County Board staff.”

  4. Yes.

    We took that out as it would allow the Chairman to have too much power.

    We had gone through a period prior to Peter when there was no County Administrator and the Chairman was performing that function.

    This was a hold over from that.

    Now that we do have an Administrator, we wanted to make it clear that the Administrator called the shots on day to day business while the Chairman just worked with the Board setting policy and doing oversight and not be able to meddle in daily operations in competition with the professional staff.

  5. Simple solution

    No one has power get rid of the Chair position .

    do you now think we have enough on these boards as it is!?

    enough with the power hungry wolves!

    I’m sick of paying for them!

  6. @LTR

    So you want less board members which in turn will give them essentially more power?

    As far as paying them making less board members will only increase the pay.

    I’m doing more so I should get more.

    Having 24 County Board Members balances out that power.

    Be careful what you wish for.

    If Electing the COunty Board Chair at large hasn’t proven that point not sure what will!

  7. Can we get back to the fact the hosts is not even giving Franks a CHANCE if they listen to obstructionists like Mike Walkup and Cal Skinner who are more interested in their own power than in saving money for the taxpayers.

  8. I hinted at a way to save money when I wrote the article about the wanding security people at each County Board meeting.

    That is a complete waste of money which I would try to excise from the budget were I on the County Board.

    Please share one of your suggestions.

  9. We DID give Franks a chance.

    That lasted for about 15 minutes until he launched into a diatribe accusing the county government of being the source of our high property taxes (it isn’t) and dictating what we WOULD do, not what he would recommend that we do, and then following that up with mis-using the Board Rules to set up an ad hoc committee to supplant an existing committee, picking his own people for that committee without any Board input, and losing his temper with our new Vice Chairman for no reason.

    THEN, after privately telling several Members that the new committee would be limited to discussing consolidation of committees, sent out wholesale revisions to the Rules at the end of the business day for a meeting the next morning.

    This is not how you win friends and influence people.

  10. http://www.Cut10.org redirects to CutMcHenryTaxes.com which has been disabled.

    This was the Jack Franks website for his Cut 10 initiative during his campaign as Democrat candidate for McHenry County Board Chair.

    “I’m running for McHenry County Board Chairman to cut property taxes by 10% across the board.

    This means a 10% property tax levy reduction from EVERY government body in our County.

    We can finally give relief to local property taxpayers if we eliminate government waste and fraud and more efficiently manage tax dollars.

    Join me in sending a message to McHenry County leaders in support of this 10% cut.

    And know that I will introduce this plan on my first day as your new McHenry County Board Chairman.

    – Jack Franks”

    ++++++++++

    First Day as Board Chairman – Monday, December 5, 2016 – no plan

    Second Day as Board Chairman – Tuesday, December 6, 2016 – no plan

    Third Day as Board Chairman – Wednesday, December 7, 2016 – no plan

    Fourth Day as Board Chairman – Thursday, December 8, 2016 – ?

  11. Mark,

    You are so literal.

    Wasn’t Trump going to repeal Obamacare in day one?

    Wasn’t he going to repeal all executive orders on day one?

    Wasn’t he going to cancel all bad trade deals on day one?

    Quit being so literal. Change takes time and you haven’t even given Franks a chance.

  12. “And know that I will introduce this plan on my first day as your new McHenry County Board Chairman.

    – Jack Franks”

  13. Northwest Herald

    June 6, 2014

    Franks Asks County for 2 Advisory Referendums

    by Kevin Craver

    “‘What I’m trying to do is reduce our property taxes in McHenry County and make it livable so people don’t leave,’ Franks said.

    ‘I can promise you I am not running for county chairman in 2016.

    This has nothing to do with me.

    This is about good government.'”

    http://www.nwherald.com/2014/06/05/franks-asks-county-for-2-advisory-referendums/a6ejr9p/?view=all

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