McHenry County Blog

Demonstrators at Rep. Jack Franks’ Woodstock office.

Being State Representative must not be rewarding enough for Marengo Democrat Jack Franks.

Four years ago at the end of June he convinced family and friends to transfer about a half a million to his campaign fund.

That got him mentioned as a candidate for Governor.

But he ran for State Rep. again.

Today, the Chicago Sun-Times has a story entitled,

Jack Franks for Lt. Gov? State rep looking at statewide run — undecided on gay marriage

The two are linked, perhaps because it is unlikely a candidate running in a statewide Democratic primary election could win if he or she opposed same-sex marriage.

Confirming his statewide ambitions, the article starts, “State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) confirmed Tuesday that he is setting his sights on a run for higher office, possibly for Lieutenant Governor.”

Under new law candidates for Governor select their running mates and they run as a ticket, linked on the ballot.

Franks says he is not interested in running with Governor Pat Quinn.

Much of the maneuvering for statewide office is dependent on whether Attorney General Lisa Madigan runs for re-election or Governor. She outraised Quinn in fund raising this past quarter.

In February, 2011, I made an effort to analyze how competitive Franks’ campaign fund was with other potential statewide candidates.  You can read it here.

While I probably dismissed some Cook County politicians I should not have, among Democratic Party state legislators, Franks had the third highest amount in the bank.

Reporter Natasha Korecki got Franks to talk about his statewide ambitions.

The story did not make the print edition.

A press release from State Rep. candidate Danielle Rowe. She is facing off against appointed incumbent Kent Gaffney and David McSweeney.

LT. GOVERNOR OF WISCONSIN STANDS WITH DANIELLE ROWE

ISLAND LAKE – Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch is standing with conservative reformer Danielle Rowe because she is the only candidate in the 52nd District race who can bring revolutionary change to Illinois.

Wis. Lt.. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch

Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch had this to say about Danielle Rowe,

“Gov. Scott Walker and I, along with Republicans in the State Legislature, turned things around in Wisconsin by translating conservative grassroots principles into public policy.

“As a result, we’ve grown jobs, fully funded our state pensions and balanced our state budget without raising taxes.

“Danielle Rowe is exactly the type of conservative, grassroots leader Illinois needs in its General Assembly.

“I believe Rowe will do what she says when it comes to standing for pro-growth economic policies that respect the small business owner/operator and standing against the profligate tax-borrow-spend culture in Springfield that has decimated Illinois’ economy.

“My only fear is that Rowe will be so effective in Springfield she may drive Chicago Democrats north of the border to hide out in Wisconsin.”

Danielle Rowe

“I am honored to have such a prominent conservative woman standing with me in my campaign,” Rowe said.

“She is a fighter and I am a fighter.”

“We don’t accept the status quo and we challenge the false premises and bad policies that have led to economic devastation in our states.

“We need revolutionary reforms like those in Wisconsin to turn our state around.”

“The voters in our district have a clear choice,” Rowe said.

“I support the reforms of Governor Walker and Lt. Governor Kleefisch and my opponents do not.”

“I support the revolutionary change Governor Scott Walker and Lt. Governor Kleefisch have delivered in Wisconsin.

“Walker & Kleefisch inherited a $3.6 billion budget deficit and they stopped runaway spending and borrowing, balanced the budget in one year without raising taxes and created tens of thousands of private sector jobs as a result of their improved business climate.

“My opponents represent the status quo in Illinois and a continuation of the same old, failed policies that got us into this mess in the first place.”

Putting her grassroots conservative principles into policy action is what led to Danielle Rowe’s endorsement by the Illinois Tea Party.

Rowe is the first woman and first State Representative candidate ever endorsed by the statewide tea party organization.

Rowe’s campaign has also been highlighted by American Grizzlies United and Organizing 4 Palin.

Danielle is the only state representative candidate in the entire country to have earned that distinction from the Sarah Palin supporting grassroots organization.

Rowe went to Wisconsin and stood with Republican Governor Scott Walker and Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch when they were fighting for revolutionary change in early 2011.

Rowe returned to Wisconsin last summer to help coordinate the State Senate recall campaigns against Democrat legislators who fled to Illinois instead of doing their jobs and voting up or down on real reforms.

And here’s the press release inviting you to come:

Lt. Gov Hopeful Terry Link to Speak to Democrats

State Senator Terry Link (D-30), a candidate for Lt. Governor will be a featured guest at the September meeting of the Democratic Party of McHenry County at the McHenry County Farm Bureau, 1102 McConnell Road in Woodstock at 7 PM, Wednesday, September 16.

Senator Link has served since 1997 and is the Majority Caucus Chair. He is a recognized leader on tax and financial issues.

Link is also Chair of the Lake County Democratic Central Committee and has led a Democratic resurgence in that once reliably Republican County. He has supported the growth of the McHenry County party. In the crowded field of Lt. Governor candidates, Link is sometimes regarded as the voice of the collar counties.

The McHenry County Democratic Party will continue to invite candidates to speak through the primary. The county party does not make endorsements in the primary.

The meeting is free and open to the public.

The following press release came today. Winters was elected to the General Assembly in 1994. He reports having $11,713.65 in his campaign account.

State Rep. Dave Winters Announces Candidacy for Lieutenant Governor

Rockford, IL (July 20, 2009) – After six weeks of testing the waters with an exploratory committee, State Representative Dave Winters plans to announce a bid for Illinois Lieutenant Governor Wednesday, July 22.

Rep. Winters formed an exploratory committee seeking advice and backing from colleagues of the Illinois House and Senate, as well as congressman, community and business leaders.

“I’d like to thank my exploratory committee members for their counsel and support through this process; without their unyielding encouragement I wouldn’t have such a strong agenda for job growth and reform in Illinois,” Winters said.

Winters is flying into Chicago, Champaign, Springifield, Peoria and Rockford Wednesday.

Jim Thacker of Don Manzullo, Al Salvi and Larry Morrissey fame is his campaign manager.

Hancock County Pastor Randy White has been campaigning for the job for over a year, having met senior citizens in Crystal Lake one snowy day this past winter.

Three positions out of Lt. Governor Pat Quinn’s mouth on how to select a replacement for U.S. Senator President-elect Barack Obama since Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested.

I can’t do better than Tom Roeser did. Here’s what Roeser wrote:

“Quinn, who normally is very sanctimonious-rolling his eyeballs to heaven to attest his own honesty–fumbled badly by taking four definable but inconsistent positions on how Illinois should find a senator to replace Obama.

“First he said without equivocation that the legislature should provide for a special election rather than hold still for a governor’s appointment.

“Second after consulting with the Democratic hierarchy, he said the state should continue with a gubernatorial appointment (the Daley forces worrying that the state is so regurgitating from the Blago scandal that the electorate might…gasp!..elect a Republican senator).

“When the prospect of appointment displeased 71% of the state via recent poll, Quinn invented a third way: he should name a senator who would serve only until a special election is held…something which may not fly under the constitution.

“Finally-yesterday (Sunday) on TV, he retreated to his original stance, supporting a special election. This day-by-day change of heart is not much different from Blago.”

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The flip-flop illustration comes from an online video game my son enjoys–Club Penguin.

Three positions out of Lt. Governor Pat Quinn’s mouth on how to select a replacement for U.S. Senator President-elect Barack Obama since Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested.

I can’t do better than Tom Roeser did. Here’s what Roeser wrote:

“Quinn, who normally is very sanctimonious-rolling his eyeballs to heaven to attest his own honesty–fumbled badly by taking four definable but inconsistent positions on how Illinois should find a senator to replace Obama.

“First he said without equivocation that the legislature should provide for a special election rather than hold still for a governor’s appointment.

“Second after consulting with the Democratic hierarchy, he said the state should continue with a gubernatorial appointment (the Daley forces worrying that the state is so regurgitating from the Blago scandal that the electorate might…gasp!..elect a Republican senator).

“When the prospect of appointment displeased 71% of the state via recent poll, Quinn invented a third way: he should name a senator who would serve only until a special election is held…something which may not fly under the constitution.

“Finally-yesterday (Sunday) on TV, he retreated to his original stance, supporting a special election. This day-by-day change of heart is not much different from Blago.”

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The flip-flop illustration comes from an online video game my son enjoys–Club Penguin.