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Jack Franks won’t run for reelection

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Illinois

* There goes that seat…

Ending months of speculation, Democratic state Rep. Jack Franks announced his candidacy for McHenry County Board Chairman, setting up what is sure to be a fierce race for the first-ever election for the seat.

But while the move gives the McHenry County Republican Party a hard fight for what was an uncontested race, it also gives the GOP a chance to reclaim the 63rd Illinois House District seat that Franks said he is relinquishing to run for chairman instead.

Franks, of Marengo, made the announcement Sunday morning, shortly after the Democratic Party of McHenry County voted to slate him to run against Republican nominee Michael Walkup. Walkup, a County Board member from Crystal Lake, narrowly defeated incumbent Chairman Joe Gottemoller, R-Crystal Lake, in the March 15 primary. […]

The county Democratic Party has until August to select a candidate to run against Reick, and Democratic Party of McHenry County Chairman Michael Bissett said the decision will not happen until at least after Memorial Day.

“I’ll be the face of McHenry County in both Springfield and Washington,” Franks said. “I’ll give us credibility, and I’ll be able to put McHenry County back on the map.”

Humble through and through. /snark

* Tribune…

Franks sought to portray the long-rumored move as a result of frustration over the lack of a state budget. But as a Democrat holding a seat in Republican territory, Franks was potentially a target of Republican Gov. Rauner and his allies this fall.

Rauner is trying to pick off as many House Democrats as he can this year and in 2018 to dethrone Speaker Michael Madigan, his chief nemesis at the state Capitol. It’s an uphill struggle for Rauner this fall, as he faces a political landscape that includes a Madigan-drawn legislative map, a presidential year when Democrats turn out in greater numbers and the prospect of Donald Trump at the top of the GOP ticket.

For Franks, running for County Board president allows him to sidestep a possible Rauner-funded challenge. While Franks got 58 percent in 2014, Rauner easily carried the district. It’s Republican territory, but Franks was able to use family name recognition to hold onto the seat since first winning it in 1998.

* Riopell asks what Franks’ departure means for “taxes, budget stalemate.” Not much…

Franks often votes against Democratic budget and tax plans, anyway. Democrats in the House have 71 members, enough to override a Rauner veto if they all stick together.

But they often haven’t, and Franks’ votes along with Democratic Reps. Scott Drury of Highwood and Ken Dunkin of Chicago have often meant Rauner’s vetoes stand.

The drama will continue to play out as a bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Rauner’s budget director came up with a package of budget ideas last week that includes an income tax hike. And the state hasn’t approved a full state budget that’s now in danger of becoming a year overdue.

“Maybe this will help break the deadlock, the gridlock. Because the fact is, I keep hearing about this mythical 71. You know, do all the tax increases. But it’s not real,” Franks said. “It’s a mirage.”

* Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves…

Democratic bench: Independence? Executive experience? It’s something Democrats are looking for as they are to face a bitter gubernatorial election in 2018. So far, no one has raised his or her hand to go up against deep-pocketed Rauner. But should Franks win the county chair seat, it could quickly propel him high on the Democrats’ short list.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:30 am

Comments

He waited until after his legislative fundraiser last week to announce this. Heh.

So long suckers.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:35 am
===Because the fact is, I keep hearing about this mythical 71. You know, do all the tax increases. But it’s not real,” Franks said. “It’s a mirage.”===

Exactly.

I’m of the belief Durkin will get at least 2 seats, maybe a 3rd, then the “Super Majority” all-out lie (there’s no working super majority, it hasn’t existed!) will be replaced with Rauner owning Veto after Veto, with no “Well, why won’t Madigan override?”

He can’t. Can’t now, won’t be able to later.

To the Post,

Franks will be “missed”, but for very separate and head-scratching reasons to those that don’t follow the GA.

Yes. Franks is running away from is enevitable doom, and yes, Franks is going to try to move up and try to “Shake up” his “One-Party” county as he did by being Jack Franks, “the ameba of political rigidness.” Franks is probably frustrated so if Rauner’s Crew goal is to wait out the frustrated in swing district, that’s a win for them too… at the cost of Social Services, but I digress…

… Franks gone, Dunkin gone, the mythical “71″ possibly shattered into 67 or 68 pieces… Rep. Drury… Wear a coat, it’s going to get colder for you. Honest.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:40 am
huh….I had wondered why.

Comment by Honeybear Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:40 am
Franks is the kind of Democrat that people who would never vote in a Democratic primary would like to see nominated by the Democratic party. But a guy that’s made a career out of grandstanding against the Democratic party isn’t going to win a Democratic primary for Governor.

Comment by The Captain Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:43 am
Franks is one of the few good people in the GA. He will be missed.

Comment by Tone Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:51 am
so which Republican seats are Madigan targets now?

Comment by Amalia Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:52 am
Okay so wait…..OW you said the house will pick up 2-3 Raunerite seats? So we won’t be able to govern around Rauner in Jan 2017? Is that what you are saying? Oh my God. I think I’m about to hyperventilate.

Comment by Honeybear Monday, May 16, 16 @ 10:16 am
===…the house will pick up 2-3 Raunerite seats? So we won’t be able to govern around Rauner in Jan 2017? Is that what you are saying? Oh my God. I think I’m about to hyperventilate.===

It’s May 16th.

Franks seat, the Cloonen seat, just by the sheer closeness puts those two seats in serious play, just as Sen. Sullivan’s seat probably will flip. The other Tier 1 races? It’s probably a bit unfair (less Cloonen) to openly speculate in this specific instance to show my point.

You could also argue POTUS years are great for Dems, etc., but going on 15 months without a budget, college towns, Labor, Madigan…a two-seat flip to Rauner is more than possible, sure.

Who’s to say Rauner losing the phony “super majority” crutch will lead to more gridlock.

Seems to me Rauner doesn’t want to own anything.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 16, 16 @ 10:35 am
I thought Gov. Rauner once said that Franks was a Dem. memeber he could “work with”?

Comment by One to the Dome Monday, May 16, 16 @ 10:36 am
I’m not yet convinced he will withdraw from the race -

Comment by doofusguy Monday, May 16, 16 @ 10:36 am
Thanks for the view. I don’t understand what is going on in the races besides the Kay/Stuart race. So thanks for that vantage point.

Comment by Honeybear Monday, May 16, 16 @ 10:49 am
I know a lot of folks on this blog tend to think Members are focused on state politics as much as the rest of us are, but we have to remember that most Members were initially city council members, school board members, county board commissioners, and other such local offices first.

For a lot of these folks their interest in local politics is much more than their interest in state politics, so it doesn’t surprise me at all when a Member leaves the General Assembly for a high-level local position.

Comment by Just Me Monday, May 16, 16 @ 10:57 am
===so it doesn’t surprise me at all when a Member leaves the General Assembly for a high-level local position.===

It doesn’t surprise anyone who makes the drive to Springfield on a regular basis. Why be away from home three nights per week?

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, May 16, 16 @ 11:09 am
OW- as Honeybear said, thanks for the perspective on the numbers. I agree, I think Rauner won’t like his new “ownership” of the lack of a supermajority blaming point. And there still won’t be enough votes in the House for veto overrides unless Republicans ease up on the yellow and red= green ($) and side more with the Dems when it really counts.

Comment by Anon221 Monday, May 16, 16 @ 11:25 am
===Um, I know why===

Zing!

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, May 16, 16 @ 11:32 am
“You could also argue POTUS years are great for Dems” - Historically yes, but not a lot of enthusiasm for Hillary to drive that turnout.

Comment by Will P Monday, May 16, 16 @ 12:01 pm
=== Historically yes, but not a lot of enthusiasm for Hillary to drive that turnout. ===

That lack of enthusiasm for Hillary will surely be balanced out by a wave of enthusiasm from anti-Trump voters.

Comment by Anonymouth Monday, May 16, 16 @ 12:05 pm
===Historically yes, but not a lot of enthusiasm for Hillary to drive that turnout.===

That’s why it’s an argument up for discussion, not a give as fact.

(Tips cap to - Honeybear - and - Anon221 -)

The statehouse races, given the amount of cash these races will have, especially the GOP statehouse races, it will still come down to the micro, the micro with a POTUS turnout voting universe.

Candidates like Sen. Sullivan and Rep. Franks, while few, are examples of local candidates that represent their district abd are liked defeat the “numbers” of the district.

Take them out as a choice, could be a different party representing those districts. We’ll see.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 16, 16 @ 12:07 pm
“That lack of enthusiasm for Hillary will surely be balanced out by a wave of enthusiasm from anti-Trump voters.”

I agree, Trump is a dangerous demagogue that must be stopped.

Comment by Tone Monday, May 16, 16 @ 12:09 pm
47th Ward — word!

Comment by Just Me Monday, May 16, 16 @ 12:30 pm
==Take them out as a choice, could be a different party representing those districts. We’ll see==

OW, if Jack does follow through, the House Dems have lost RD63. Gone, done. No reason to equivocate.

Comment by wolf Monday, May 16, 16 @ 12:57 pm
- wolf -,

I’m always leery, elections have a funny way of falling any number of ways. Nothing is ever a “given” until the ballots are counted. Franks not running cripples the HDems from keeping the seat, it’s possible it will flip. The odds of a GOP pickup are far greater today. Far greater.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 16, 16 @ 1:03 pm
Franks is just trying to pad his pension. As a retired legislator, he gets a pension from GARS. As long as he doesn’t file for his GARS pension, he may be able to obtain an IMRF pension provided he meets the requirements under the retirement systems reciprocal act.

Comment by Huh? Monday, May 16, 16 @ 3:48 pm
“Franks is just trying to pad his pension.” Huh, Huh? Franks’ family is quite wealthy. I doubt his pension is a fraction of that. I’m sure it had to impact on his decision.

Comment by Michael Westen Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:04 pm
Franks’ many self-aborted attempts at running for Governor remind me of what President Truman supposedly said about Adlai Stevenson II: He couldn’t make up his mind about whether he wanted to run for president or go to the bathroom.

Comment by Southside Markie Monday, May 16, 16 @ 7:47 pm
Jack Franks managed to do what Lee Daniels, Tom Cross and Jim Durkin couldn’t do. Get rid of Jack Franks.

That said, what’s a loose-canon, lame duck Jack Franks gonna do?
Vote with Democrats?

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, May 16, 16 @ 8:36 pm