McHenry County Blog

Earlier this fall, State Rep. Jack Franks took a self-financed trip to Cuba. He called it a “trade mission.”

Looking through old Google alerts for the Marengo Democrat, I found the most extensive description of the Caribbean adventure on the web site of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.

It not only identified some others who went with Franks (Reps. Karen May and Sara Feigenholtz), but revealed details of contacts with the 500-person Jewish community in Cuba.

Franks focused on the trade aspects of the trip, while May and Feigenholtz “slipped away for a visit with Adela Dworin, president of Temple Beth Shalom of Havana, Cuba, and David Prinstein, vice president of the temple.”

The story told of the two’s taking hard-to-obtain worship items, plus “medical and health care supplies,” reported to be scare in Cuba.

Human rights were also a topic of interest. An American Jewish contractor has been sentenced to 15 years in prison “for distributing satellite telephone equipment to Jewish groups in Havana.”

The article described the offense and “a crime against the Cuban State.”

“When asked if he had the opportunity to express the concerns of the Jewish community in Illinois about Gross to government leaders, Franks responded that as, co-chair of the mission, he wanted to stay focused on the core goal of increasing trade.”

He added that such diplomatic work should be left to the professionals.

The story ended with news that Franks and his family are going to Cuba this month on a humanitarian mission.

Herb Franks

Jack Franks

“In November, Franks will return to Cuba with his extended family on a humanitarian, rather than trade, mission. They will bring medicine, health care products, and supplies for the Jewish Youth Center in Havana.

“Herb Franks, Rep. Franks’ father, traveled to Cuba seven years ago on a mission which included stops with the Jewish community in Cuba and began to think then of a return trip as a family mission.”

The State Representative’s staffer thought the trip was scheduled for Thanksgiving week.

Herb Franks designed his office with Springfield's Frank Lloyd Wright's Dana Thomas House in mind. He hoped that his three sons would practice law there with him, but only Jack is. One is is Lake in the Hills, the other is in Florida. Whenever his father tries to get him to come North, his Florida son asks the temperature in Marengo. Of course, Florida has no income tax besides being warmer.

Yesterday I saw Jack Franks and his father Herb in their Marengo law office, where I was waiting for a friend to complete an appointment.

Jack didn’t pause to shake hands, but his father, whom I met while I was County Treasurer during tax sale time, was his usual genial self.

Maybe it was the John O’Neill for State Rep. bumper sticker I had on my windshield in front of the rear view mirror that was off-putting.  (It blocks the sun and is the best place to put a bumper sticker because more people can see it there than when you put in on the back of your car.)

In any event, although Jack is not happy with my reporting that he flipped on the Com Ed rate increase bill and other stories, he is on the side of the angels in his sponsorship of House Bill 3793.

You figure that out for yourselves by reading the following frantic email to township officials from the Township Officials of Illinois. That’s the organization that your tax dollars finance, by the way.

To: Township Officials
From: Bryan E. Smith, Executive Director
Date: November 2, 2011
Re: House Bill 3793
Urgent Legislative Matter – Contact Your Legislators

House Bill 3793 is currently on second reading in the Illinois House. This bill would affect Townships and Road Districts in PTELL (Tax Cap) Counties. This bill amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) to prevent a taxing district (Townships and Road Districts included) from capturing the CPI increase for its extension limitation if the district’s total EAV is less than the previous levy year. TOI OPPOSES this bill because it would reduce available property tax revenues for Townships and Road Districts. PTELL (Tax Caps) already limits (in those counties that have tax caps) the ability of Townships/Road Districts to capture all available growth during good economic times. It would be very unfair to also prevent a Township/Road District from capturing minimal cost-of-living increases that are available.

We have heard that the sponsor might try a legislative parliamentary procedure to get this passed during the final days of the VETO Session next week. The House could vote any time on this bill during VETO Session next week, November 8-10.

Please call your State Representative now in their Springfield office by calling 217.782.2000 (State Operator) and ask them to OPPOSE and vote NO on House Bill 3793.

Thank you for your assistance with this urgent legislative matter.

Pam Butler
Office Manager, TOI
Drug and Alcohol Program

Taxpayers can, of course, call their legislator, too. The switchboard number is 217-782-2000.

Secretaries in Springfield usually keep tallies and you can bet the calls from taxeaters will exceed those from taxpayers.

A politician can probably be best judged by the depth he will sink to get elected.

I remember Jack Franks once being outraged that someone had put up a sign identifying his religion on Route 31 right before or on election day.  I wonder if he will be surprised at the similar outrage that John O’Neill probably has about the mailing you’ll see at the bottom of this overly long article.

Previously, I shared his first mailing. You remember, the one where he promotes himself as an “Independent,” (but does not say he will vote against House Speaker Mike Madigan, the major problem in Illinois.)  You can find it here.

Franks has sent out two more “positive” pieces and another one has come from a surrogate group that so far has failed to file any identification papers with either the State Board of Elections or the McHenry County Clerk.  This group has sent out a “hit piece” on John O’Neill, the first Republican brave enough to face him down in six years. Stay tuned on Saturday.

I don’t know which of the pieces Franks is willing to identify himself with went out first, so I’ll show you the first one on the scanner:

The address side repeats endorsement excerpts, talks about his latter day opposition to Rod Blagojevich, his meaningless recall amendment and how he is pushing for term limits. (Click to enlarge.)

So, what’s the problem with his claims?

Franks worked closely with Rod Blagojevich after he was elected. The bulk prescription drug proposal that Franks had pushed with great publicity was one area of cooperation.

Here are the contributions that Herb Franks, Jack’s father, made to Friends of Blagojevich:

• 11/30/2001 – $5,000
• 1/13/2002 – $100
• 6/10/2002 – $500
• 6/25/2002 – $5,000
• 10/10/2002 – $2,000.00 In-Kind Contribution

During that time he sent the following memo to the Blago patronage woman seeking “positions” for his friends and family:

Click to enlarge.

If you can find any evidence that Franks opposed Blagojevich before the 2006 election, please let me know.

I have written about the phony Recall Amendment previously. No one is covered but a governor like Rod Blagojevich. If approved, it will be the weakest Recall language in any state. It give political cover to its supporters to be able to say they did something, when in fact they just are spinning the voters’ wheels in mud.  Lots of motion, but none of it forward toward real reform.

Franks says he is for term limits for legislative leaders, an idea I pushed vigorously when I ran for Governor against Rod Blagojevich in 2002.  He has made no effort anyone can see to limit House Speaker Mike Madigan’s reign.

Term limits for himself do not seem to be in the picture.  Franks is running for this seventh term. I have never heard of any term limit advocate favoring legislators serving longer that twelve years.  If Franks wins, he will be starting his 13th year.

The other side of this first mailing looks like this:

The pitch is "Government has been corrupted by too many politicians enriching themselves instead of working for the people. My focus is to end this sorry practice and I will not stop until Illinois has been cleaned up."

As to using one’s office for personal purposes, perhaps Franks can explain the following letters communications with state agencies in support of Mercy Health System’s application to build a hospital in Crystal Lake:

Jack Franks' July 30, 2003, letter on law office stationery to an Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board concerns the Crystal Lake Mercy Hospital application.

Jack Franks' August 11, 2003, letter on law firm station dated Aug. 11, 2003.

August 29, 2003, letter on law firm stationery that Jack Franks sent to the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board on behalf of Mercy's Crystal Lake Hospital appplication.

September 8, 2003, letter from Department of Aging Director Charles D. Johnson recommending approval of Mercy's Crystal Lake Hospital with a copy to Jack Franks at his law office. I wonder why there is an exhibit number on the document.

September 22, 2003, letter concerning Mercy's Crystal Lake Hospital from Public Aid Director Barry Maram. It seems to have been written at Jack Franks' request.

Here's the final letter concerning Jack Franks and Mercy's Crystal Lake application. It does not refer to Jack Franks, the lawyer. it references "Representative Franks."

I would assume that Franks did not do this as a constituent service for Mercy Health Systems.

This article is already way too long, so I’ll look at the third Franks’ mailing tomorrow.

The McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals will hear a petition filed by State Rep. Jack Franks’  father for a sign near the entrance to his law office on Route 20.

The hearing will be held September 9th at 1L30 in the McHenry County Administrative Building.

As I remember the controversy, the sign in question has a verse from what Christians call the Old Testament.

Here’s the press release from the law firm’s web site:

September 22, 2008

Law firm Franks, Gerkin & McKenna today filed a motion asking the McHenry County Court to declare the local sign ordinance unconstitutional and to dismiss the charges recently brought against the firm.

In August 2007, the County charged the FGM law firm with violation of the Sign Ordinance because of the biblical saying above the firm’s front entrance which reads,

“Justice, Justice, Shalt Thou Pursue.”

It is from the Book of Deuteronomy and was placed above the firm’s front doors with the construction of the Frank Lloyd Wright inspired building in the year 2000.

FGM argued that the Ordinance was unconstitutional on its face because it was vague, a prior restraint on speech, and an over broad regulation that is in violation of both the United States and Illinois Constitutions. The pleadings cited a long list of cases supporting that argument.

The law firm also alleged that the sign was exempted under the Ordinance’s clear language as a prior legal nonconforming use but also exempted under many of the exceptions listed in the Ordinance itself.

Jack Franks, partner in the law firm of FGM, believes that the ordinance poses a real liability to the county and that it is being applied in a discriminatory manner. According to Franks,

“I am happy that these arguments are finally before the Court because the ordinance is an infringement on our citizens’ constitutional rights and must be remedied. People of faith should not be discriminated against by their government, for expressing their ethical beliefs.”

For more information on how the team at FGM can help protect your constitutional rights, feel free to contact us at (815) 572-4256.

This what the World Trade Center looked like in 1983.

Sounds pretty harmless in view of the zoning controversy surrounding the mosque near Ground Zero.

State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo), obviously preparing for a statewide run before campaign contribution limits take effect, reported raising $1,319,769.37 during the first half of 2009.

(In case you are interested in what he spent during the last six months, click here. For the Chicago kingmaker he visited Friday, click here.)

In on the ground floor of whatever State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) is undertaking in the 2010 campaign are the following contributors:

First those donating $50,000 or more:

Eileen Franks, Occupation: retired, Marengo – $450,000

Herbert H. Franks, Occupation: attorney, Marengo – $250,000

Deborah Franks, Occupation: housewife. Marengo – $200,000

Steven W. Kling, Occupation: Real Estate Broker, Employer: Grubb & Ellis, Hampshire – $100,000

Helen Lindow, Occupation: Owner, Lindow’s Appliance, Marengo – $50,000

None of these contributions would be legal in 2011, if Governor Pat Quinn signs the so-called campaign reform bill on his desk. While certainly not an expert on the legislation sitting on Governor Pat Quinn’s desk, the bill seems to have a $5,000 limit on contributions from individuals.

Jack Franks also loaned $150,000 to his political action committee.

$1.2 million of the $1.3 million or 90% of the money Franks is using to gain a place on the statewide ticket comes from just six contributors. All but one are relatives, I have been told.

This demonstrates how it almost a necessity to get big chunks of money from a relatively few number of donors. In the best of conditions, those making the contributions want nothing but good government in return.

Political action committees gave $45,800 of the total.

Small contributions came from the following individuals and incorporated entities. None of the money is tax deductible.

Look closely and you will see some who previously gave money to disgraced former Governor Rod Blagojevich.

The largest six-month amount I see below is $5,000, given by J.B. & M.K. Pritzker.

Large numbers of attorneys appear on the list. There are also a goodly number of firms involved in road construction, landscaping and medical care.

A contributor of $2,500 is Libertyville Judge Mary Schostok. [I talked to now Justice Schostok at the Nunda Township Republican Picnic Saturday, August 8, 2009. She told me that her husband, who has different politics from her, made the contribution from a non-joint checking account and that Jack Franks' campaign recorded it incorrectly. Schostok says a request has been made for Franks to change the way he reported the contribution.]

Several hundred dollars were given by Canadian fishing buddy Jesse White and Ed Burke. Strangely missing is Blagojevich father-in-law Alderman Dick Mell, another regular on the excursion.

Two former Republican officials are on the list:

• State Rep. Sam Vinson and
• Appellate Court Justice S. Louis Rathje

I see one contributor against whom Attorney General Lisa Madigan has filed suit.

A for-profit entity in the Mercy Health Systems constellation of entities donated $2,500. You will remember that Jack’s father Herb represented Mercy in its attempts to build a hospital in Crystal Lake.

The corporation that purchased the Woodstock Residence contributed $2,000.

The smaller contributors follow in alphabetical order:

Abbott Contractors LLC, Bartlett – $200

Action K-9 Security Inc, Chicago – $500

Advanced Practical Solutions LLC, Chicago – $2,500

Robert E. Aleksy, Chicago – $250

Ameren, St. Louis, MO – $500

Andrea A. Riala & Associates Inc., Chicago – $250

Astellas Pharma US Inc, Deerfield – $500

Attorneys Title Guaranty Fund Inc., Chicago – $1,000

Robert S. Baizer, Baizer Kolar & Lewis PC, Highland Park – $2,500

Richard Barr, Employer: PLS Financial, Northbrook – $1,000

Barton Management Inc, Northfield – $3,500

Baudin W Randal, Dundee – $500

Baxter & Woodman Inc, Crystal Lake – $250

Stella Black, Chicago – $200

BlueStar Energy Services, Chicago – $250

BNSF Railway Company, Fort Worth, TX – $1,000

Richard Boykin, Chicago – $250

Bricton Group Inc, Park Ridge – $200

Bruce Simon Consulting, Springfield – $250

Duane and Diane Bucksath, Homer Glen – $250

Christopher B. Burke Engineering LTD., Rosemont – $250

Jack Carey, Attorney at Law, Belleville – $350

John and Nancy Castle, Sycamore – $250

Clifford Law Offices PC, Chicago – $500

Cooney And Conway, Chicago – $500

Crossroads Care Center of Woodstock. Woodstock – $2,000

Lynn G. Cutler, Chicago – $250

Jim W. Demoss, Chicago – $250

Alice Dermer, Chicago – $300

George T & Beth J Drost, Arlington Heights – $500

Fidelity Consulting Group, Chicago – $250

Fletcher O’Brien Kasper & Nottage PC, Chicago – $500

Russell & Sara Foszcz, Richmond – $500

Frazier Consulting LLC, Park Ridge – $500

Globetrotters Engineering Corp, Chicago – $250

Lawrence N. Gold, Barrington – $250

Great Lakes Medicaid, Chicago – $500

GRO Horticultural Enterprises Inc, Union – $500

H S Crocker Co Inc, Huntley – $2,500

Richard D. Hannigan Ltd., Mundelein – $250

Charles G Haskins, Jr., Attorney at Law, Chicago – $250

Mark Hassakis, Mt. Vernon – $250

Keith A & Jodi B Hebeisen, Employer: Clifford Law Offices, Northbrook – $1,000

Harry & Carrie J Hightman, Chicago – $500

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Chicago – $250

Illinois Governmental Consulting Group LLC, Chicago – $500

International Profit Associates, Buffalo Grove – $1,000

Intren Inc., Union – $1,250

Johnson, Willis & Shirley, Downers Grove – $250

Kamys Michael A. Law Offices, Chicago – $250

Howard Gordon Kaplan, Chicago – $250

Kraft Foods Global Inc., Northfield – $1,500

Krimson Valley Landscape Inc, Woodstock – $250

Ladden & Allen Chartered, Chicago – $200

Philip & Helene Lambruschi, Lakewood – $200

Law Offices of Rubin & Norris LLC, Chicago – $500

John G. Locallo, Chicago – $250

Edward & Tiffany Long, II, Beach Park – $250

Mackey Landscapes Inc., Libertyville – $250.

ManagCare Inc., Chicago – $500

Medco Health Solutions Inc.. Amherst, VA – $500

MercyCare Insurance Company, Janesville, WI – $2,500

Metropolitan Fire Restoration Inc., Libertyville – $1,500

Charles R Middleton, Chicago – $250

Christopher Mullen PC, Chicago – $250

Edward J Neumann, Jr., McHenry – $257.93

Larry O’Connor, Marengo – $350

O’Brien Farms Inc, River Forest – $1.500

Peter Baker & Son Co., Lake Bluff – $250

Pfizer Inc., Memphis, TN – $500

Pickering & Associates LLC, Elgin – $2,000

Prestress Engineering Corporation, Prairie Grove – $250

J.B. & M.K. Pritzker, Occupation: Partner, New World Ventures, Evanston – $5,000

S. Louis Rathje, Wheaton – $250

Edward M & Marilyn L Riley, Woodstock – $200

Eugene Rintels, Winnetka – $500

Roddy Leahy Guill and Zima LTD.. Chicago – $750

Rodriguez, Marcial and Laticia, Fox Lake – $500

Michael Rohrbeck, Chicago – $250

Arnold G Rubin, Occupation: attorney, Chicago – $1,500

Schain Burney Ross & Citron Ltd, Chicago – $250

Schnell, David and Batsheva, Chicago – $250

Michael & Mary Schostok, Occupation: Illinois Judge, Libertyville – $2,500

Schwartz, David L., Bethesda, MD – $500

Scot Forge, Spring Grove – $1,000

John Sexton Sand & Gravel Corp, Hillside – $350

Shefsky & Froelich Ltd, Chicago – $1,250

Skinners’ Amusements Inc, Crystal Lake – $250

Storino Ramello & Durkin, Rosemont – $250

Strom Neal B & Associats Ltd, Chicago – $350

Superior RX Inc., Chicago – $250

T-Mobile USA Inc, Bellevue, WA – $250

The Burnham Committee (an Ed Burke PAC), Chicago – $500

The Roosevelt Group, Chicago – $500

Thelen Sand & Gravel Inc, Antioch – $500

Ungaretti & Harris LLP, Chicago – $500

United Airlines, Chicago – $250

Sam Vinson, Chicago – $250

Michael P. Vondra, Bartlett – $300

Lawrence Jay Weiner, Barrington – $250

Mitchell Weisz, Woodstock – $250

Jesse White, Chicago – $200

Alfred W. Wieher, Attorney at Law, Hinsdale – $500

= = = = =
The photo of State Rep. Jack Franks was taken from C-SPAN during the Rod Blagojevich impeachment hearings.

With Lisa Madigan making the rational decision to stay in an office that will allow her to maximize her time with her young children, the discussion today in the Franks family is bound to have been

What now?

Being an attorney, having high name identification, good contacts with Chicago Alderman Dick Mell and his allies and enough money in the family to put on a real campaign, not to mention an active contributor base, Jack Franks would have had a shot at winning a statewide primary for attorney general.

But, that is not to be.

It looks like there are going to be two open statewide offices:

Lieutenant Governor
State Treasurer

In the worst way, State Comptroller Dan Hynes doesn’t want to run for a fourth term. He’s even thinking about running against Governor Pat Quinn in the Democratic Party primary.

Why would the state comptroller want to run for state treasurer or lieutenant governor?

Might as well roll the dice like Mike Howlett did against Democratic Governor Dan Walker.

He could still run for lieutenant governor.

Look how it turned out for Pat Quinn.

State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is off and running for the U.S. Senate. Although wounded by the poor performance of the Bright Start college savings plan, he probably can take out Rod Blagojevich choice Rolland Burris.

Would Franks be more interested in running for state treasurer or lieutenant governor?

My guess is the latter.

Franks has not concentrated on financial issues. But he does have banking connections and bankers have been trained to give money to state treasurers for over 50 years. ($100 per year per $100,000 put in one’s bank, Harvard banker Joe Crabb—a former county official in Wisconsin–told me when I was McHenry County Treasurer.)

Franks is more of a generalist.

If there were a “Headliner of the Month” award, Franks would win it.

Conservative WLS Sunday night talk show host Tom Roeser has regularly featured Democrat Franks on his show for pretty much a decade now.

It doesn’t really matter than the drug purchase plan that Blagojevich co-opted when he took office in 2003 wasn’t much of a success.

Franks got publicity on a popular issue.

I can’t tell you what issue he moved on to, but it was another populist promotion.

Although Franks’ recall constitutional amendment is clearly inadequate, Franks has the reputation of a reformer.

That probably comes from his falling out with Blagojevich and the blood feud that resulted.

Before the breakdown of trust, Franks asked Blagojevich for the appointments that can be found here.

Franks, of course, got back at the ex-governor receiving more publicity during Blagojevich’s impeachment trial.

Franks has even developed a niche following with his opposition to the expansion of gambling, a subject on which conservatives and liberals agree.

Not only has he urged Governor Pat Quinn to veto the capital construction bill because it will put five slot machines in every establishment with a liquor license, he is not a newcomer to that position. Back in 2006, he opposed Governor Blagojevich’s attempt to spread keno all over the state.

And, Franks has made it quite clear he will not vote for an income tax hike, unlike his Republican State Senator Pam Althoff, who seems to be flirting with the idea.

Other state legislators like Julie Hamos want to run for statewide office, but, with her sponsorship of the tripling of the RTA sales tax, which was apparently not enough to keep the CTA afloat with drastic cutbacks in service, opponent Franks could make some really interesting TV ad comparisons.

Of course, Hamos might point to the Franks’ law firm’s involvement with the Crystal Lake Mercy Hospital application before the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board.

If she faced off against Franks, she would pick up the gay and pro-choice activists.

Initially, Franks was not endorsed by Personal PAC, the most fervent pro-abortion political action committee in the state.

But less strident pro-choicers in the Democratic Party (am I being redundant?) might have been mollified by the pro-life demonstration in front of his Woodstock office. It took a lot of work.

That might count for something in the general election or it might make no difference if Franks were tied to the Democratic Party candidate for governor.

So, what will Franks run for?

My guess is lieutenant governor.

Franks probably has higher name identification that Comptroller Hynes and on the excitement scale, Franks scores big time against Hynes.

It is doubtful they would run against each other, however. Franks has been a supporter of Hynes and undoubtedly father Herb Franks has longtime connections with the comptroller’s father former State Senate President and Cook County Assessor Tom Hynes.

Any statewide candidacy by Franks might set off a battle in the Republican Party for the nomination for his state representative seat.

Or not.

Conservatives might just cede the seat to Woodstock Mayor Brian Sager without a fight. Sager has recently retired as Interim President of McHenry County College. (Thirteen months ago, I pegged him a candidate-presumptive.)

Would there even be a Democratic Party candidate?

I can’t think of one who could not be beaten by a unified Republican Party. The Democrats do not have much of a farm team yet.

Bet you have never seen anything like this before.

When we down at the Old State Capitol Art Fair in Springfield last weekend, we saw this sign on the side of an apartment building across from a grade school north on Fifth Street.

It says,

I doubt an apartment building owner could get away with that in Crystal Lake.

Certainly, Herb Franks and his law firm are being hassled by county government for a religious message on the office facade.

Yesterday, McHenry County Blog reported on Chicago Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed’s surmising that State Rep. Jack Franks would announce for governor against Rod Blagojevich at an upcoming Chicago fund raiser co-hosted by Blagojevich father-in-law Chicago Alderman Dick Mell.

Both Jack Franks and his father, Herb Franks, have gone fishing with Mell for years, accompanied by various Illinois Supreme Court justices and others.

It appears that the Northwest Herald decided to check out Sneed’s Sunday report Thursday. Kevin Craver called him and got the answer that he would not announce at the fund raiser.

Franks told Craver:

“I’m certainly not ruling it out – I’m going to meet with people over the summer and get their ideas, and make a decision at the right time. I also want to see what happens in the November election, whether we have a President Obama or not.”

Maybe he’ll decide he would rather be a federal judge…although the odds would have been better if Hillary Clinton, his candidate for the Democratic Party nomination, was going to be the general election candidate.

Yesterday, McHenry County Blog reported on Chicago Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed’s surmising that State Rep. Jack Franks would announce for governor against Rod Blagojevich at an upcoming Chicago fund raiser co-hosted by Blagojevich father-in-law Chicago Alderman Dick Mell.

Both Jack Franks and his father, Herb Franks, have gone fishing with Mell for years, accompanied by various Illinois Supreme Court justices and others.

It appears that the Northwest Herald decided to check out Sneed’s Sunday report Thursday. Kevin Craver called him and got the answer that he would not announce at the fund raiser.

Franks told Craver:

“I’m certainly not ruling it out – I’m going to meet with people over the summer and get their ideas, and make a decision at the right time. I also want to see what happens in the November election, whether we have a President Obama or not.”

Maybe he’ll decide he would rather be a federal judge…although the odds would have been better if Hillary Clinton, his candidate for the Democratic Party nomination, was going to be the general election candidate.

Given

• his high profile as the Democrat for reporters to go to when they want a hostile comment about Governor Rod Blagojevich,
• his family’s financial resources, plus
• the statewide contacts established by his father Herb Franks, not to mention
• his high profile service in the General Assembly since 1999,

it is not a big surprise that State Rep. Jack Franks might be considering running for governor.

Franks has little to lose.

If Attorney General Lisa Madigan decides to run for governor, Franks could easily decide to run for her office.

Bringing on this article are snippets in two Michael Sneed columns in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Sunday, Sneed wrote that Blagojevich’s father-in-law, Chicago Alderman Dick Mell,

“…is co-hosting a fund-raiser for his fishing buddy and good pal state Rep. Jack Franks on June 23 at Sullivan’s Steakhouse, where Franks is expected to announce plans to run for governor!”

The fact that Mell was co-hosting a fund raiser for Franks is not in itself big news.

The prediction of an announcement in Chicago for governor was.

Tuesday, Sneed reported hearing Mell

“…took exception to Sneed’s item about Mell raising funds for state Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock), who is eyeing a bid to run for governor.

“• • Quoth Mell: ‘I’ve raised money for Jack for 10 years … and NOT because he is running for governor.’

“• • Quoth Franks: ‘I am eyeing a bid for governor. But Dick has raised money for me for years … and this fund-raiser was not just to raise funds for that race.’”

McHenry County Republicans put up no candidate to run against Franks this year, so he is free to spend anything he raises to run for statewide office.

So, what Republican will want Franks’ legislative seat if he decides to roll the dice for statewide office?

= = = = =
Michael Sneed’s column has a head shot of State Rep. Jack Franks with a beard, similar to the one you see above from this article.

By three weeks later, the beard was gone.