The Daily Herald began its “what does it all mean” story like this:
“State Rep. Jack Franks, a Democrat from Marengo, announced Sunday he is no longer seeking re-election to the House, and instead is running for McHenry County Board chairman.”
The problem with the sentence, of course, is that Jack Franks is still on the ballot for the November election.
Even though the following is in the story:
“Franks said it’s legal for him to run both for re-election to the House and for the chairman’s spot, but he’s declining to do so.”
He can say he is not running all he wants, but until he files a Withdrawal of Candidacy statement, he is still officially running.
“I’m working so hard to help people at home, and it’s being undermined by a board that doesn’t have the taxpayers’ best interests in mind.”
That’s what Franks says, giving no credit to the all-Republican McHenry County Board for cutting its tax take this year by a lot more than getting rid of their pension program will save.
See the article below (click on its title):
County Taking Less Property Tax Dollars This Year Than Last Year
(And, actually, the cost of Jack Franks’ legislative pension will be more than that of all the County Board members.)
In the article, Republican candidate Mike Walkup observed,
“Jack Franks has been attacking the county board for the last several years.
“If you have someone who’s not able to get along with other county board members, he’s not going to be able to accomplish anything, whether he’s county board chair or not.”
Check whether Franks has filed the form yet, by clicking here.
Sunday May 15, 2016, Jack Franks announced he is not seeking re-election as Democrat State Representative 63rd District.
But he added a qualifier, read the fine print if you will.
Which did not make the mainstream press headlines.
The fine print qualifier is Jack Franks will continue to run unless a Democrat candidate for 63rd District State Representative unless a Democrat candidate is found whom Jack Franks believes is electable for that position.
Who are the top 5 Democrats whom are electable in the November 8, 2016 general election?
How is Jack going about screening the candidates?
Jack just made an announcement without knowing if there was an electable candidate?
Having held the Democrat State Representative 63rd District office since being elected in 1998?
The State House Democrats are that careless, led by Michael Madigan the most powerful politician in the State of Illinois?
If Jack Franks cannot find a candidate he deems electable, he will continue to run to be re-elected as a Democrat candidate for State Representative 63rd District.
As of today, Jack Franks is still officially a candidate for two offices, State Representative 63rd District and McHenry County Board Chair, in the Tuesday November 8, 2016 general election.
He can legally hold both offices if elected.
One more term as State Representative would allow Jack Franks to maximize his legislative pension.
Jack would give up maximizing his state legislative pension to become McHenry County Board Chair?
Well there are so many exceptions in the 1,500 Illinois Pension Code, he could apparently “buy” years of service to maximize his pension, or maybe there are reciprocal rights between GARS (legislative pension) and IMRF (McHenry County Board Chair pension).
And there are other possibilities.