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.
Cal hats off to you on this story- Excellent work.
Greetings Justice Schostok,
I have lived in Illinois for 46 years and have seen great changes to Illinois and some not so good. I have followed you work / carrier for some time and hope this election will prove the people of Illinois are still passionate about good leadership and integrity follows hand in hand with a good moral compass.
I hope to meet you some time and help you move all the way to the Illinois Supreme Court. Your unselfish dedication and quick wit has my vote.
Respectfully,
Thomas Carroll
President
Saint Francis Group
francis2b@aol.com