NWH Poll Shows Opposition to Jack Franks’ Legislative Power Grab

The Northwest Herald doesn’t tell how many people answer their daily questions, but last Friday the question was What do you think of the proposed bill that would give the McHenry County Board Chairman the power of appointment? The results … Continue reading

Will Rauner’s Fixation on Mike Madigan Lead to a Veto on Bill to Make Jack Franks a More Powerful Legislative Leader Than Madigan?

An article by Charlie Wheeler in Illinois Issues contains the following sentence: “As candidate filing this week officially kicked off campaign 2018, one might suspect that Rauner’s new mantra is, ‘Vote for me because I’m not Mike Madigan.’” I continue … Continue reading

Former Jack Franks’ Staffer Wants to Know Who Signs Steve Reick’s Petition Asking for Veto of House Bill 171

Take a look at this photo from the 2011 McHenry County Fair: The name Parker Happ appears in the cutline of the photo above. Since 2010, Happ has been paid $30,512.70 by Jack Franks’ Political Action Committee. Now, Happ shows … Continue reading

Steve Reick Offers Another Way for Citizens to Object to Making Jack Franks More Powerful in His Arena Than Mike Madigan Is in Illinois House

From State Rep. Steve Reick: Rep. Reick Launches Petition Drive Urging Gov. Rauner to Veto Bill to Increase Powers of McHenry County Board Chairman State Representative Steve Reick (R-Woodstock) is asking McHenry County residents to join him in requesting a … Continue reading

Debate on House Bill 171, the Bill That Will Give Jack Franks More Power Over the McHenry County Board Than Mike Madigan Has Over the Illinois House

McHenry Times, the publication overseen by Dan Proft, wrote an interesting story by Angela Underwood about the floor debate on Jack Franks’ bill to give him more power over McHenry County Board members than Mike Madigan has over Illinois State Representatives. … Continue reading

Illinois Leaks Spreads McHenry County Board Message Favoring Veto of House Bill 171 Statewide

Illinois Leaks, a publication of the Edgar County Watchdogs, has really taken an interest in McHenry County. First it was McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks and, next, former Algonquin Township Road Commissioner Bob Miller. After twenty of twenty-four members … Continue reading

McHenry County Board Members Oppose Jack Franks Legislative Power Grab

Most of the people who will be directly affected by Jack Franks attempt to grab the power to appoint McHenry County Board committee chairmen and select which committees on which all members will serve have weighed in on the question. … Continue reading

Steve Reick Reminds Us of Voters’ Rejection of County Executive Form of Government

Here’s a man who believes those who don’t remember history might well relive it. State Rep. Steve Reick has posted the following on his web site: Putting the Brakes on County Board Chairman Excesses I’ve written the following letter to … Continue reading

If HB 171 Signed, Jack Franks Would Have More Power of the County Board Than Mike Madigan Has In the Illinois House

I’ve been thinking about the bill that McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks prevailed upon the Democrats in the legislature (and too many Republicans in the Senate) to give him total power over committee appointments. In the Illinois House, Mike … Continue reading

Steve Reick Calls Out Franks on Springfield End Run Around County Board Rules

Look at this commentary State Rep. Steve Reick posted on his web site: If At First You Don’t Succeed, Go to Springfield to Get Your Way In 2012 the voters of McHenry County voted down a referendum which would have … Continue reading

Legislature Passes Bill To Give Jack Franks Total Power Over Appointment of Committee Chairmen and Membership

After 43-3-3 approval of a Jack Franks-initiated bill in the Illinois Senate, in lickty-split action this week in Springfield, Democrats in the Illinois House pushed House Bill 171, originally introduced az a shell bill by House Speaker Mike Madigan, through on … Continue reading