Terry Link Asks Help from McHenry County Democrats

by Cal Skinner

Wednesday night Lake County Democratic Party Chairman and State Senator Terry Link went courting McHenry County Democratic Party Chairman and McHenry County Board member Kathy Bergan Schmidt Wednesday night at the McHenry County Farm Bureau building.

Before the above photo, there was a slight bow as Link went up to where Schmidt was putting out goodies for the assembled committeemen and guests. It would have been a classic.

During the meeting Schmidt explained how Link had been helpful to McHenry County Democrats back to when John Bartman chaired the central committeeman.

"I'd like to welcome Cal Skinner.  I never thought I'd live long enough to do that," he said before saying,

"I can actually go back to John McClatchy."

Link explained that he had been Lake County's Democratic Central Committee Chairman for eighteen years.

"We took a very bright red county and made it light blue.  It took a lot of work.  I could not have done it by myself."

Referring to his candidacy for the Democratic Party nomination for lieutenant governor, he said,

"I'm not ready to retire."

He said he would use the position to advance issues across the state the way he had passed the Smoke Free Illinois bill.  He wants the office to advance economic as it does in Indiana.

Link said his re-write of the Workers Compensation law--the first time in 30 years--had pleased both labor and industry so much that both gave him awards for his role of facilitator.

He was extremely proud of getting the Early Voting law passed.  He pointed out that he "carried all election law" bills and had faced House Speaker Mike Madigan down over Early Voting.

"I stood heel to heel with (Madigan).  I told him I wouldn't sign off on (his bills if he wouldn't pass Early Voting)."

Making his pitch to his fellow suburban residents, Link observed,

"We have nobody on this ticket who had announced--and I'm saying 'announced'--who lives outside of Cook County, except me."

Guess Link was referring to the possibility of McHenry County's State Rep. Jack Franks running for governor or some other statewide office.

"I have the experience.  I come from business.  I know what it's like to run a business."

He also pointed out he knew what it was like to live in a rapidly growing county.

"I was born and raised in Lake County.  We have our problems.  We need to have that perspective (at the table).

"I'm asking for your support."

= = = = =
The photos are of State Senator Terry Link.  In the bottom picture, he is talking to Spring Grove's Jeff Thirtyacre.

Posted first on McHenry County Blog.

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No Word from Jack Franks Yet

by Cal Skinner

It's after Labor Day.

That's when McHenry County State Rep. Jack Franks said he was going to decide what he was going to run for.

Will it be governor?

Since Franks is against an income tax hike and Governor Pat Quinn and State Comptroller Dan Hynes are both on record as being in favor of an income tax hike, there is certainly an opportunity there.

A Democrat against an income tax hike?

When I was running against Rod Blagojevich in 2002, he came out against an income tax increase.

And Franks says he's against an income tax hike.

There would be that little matter of feeding the Democratic Party interest groups, however.

And he has just been named a

"Taxpayer Friend"

by Jim Tobin's National Taxpayers United of Illinois.
 
He ranks as high as any Republican!

Or will he run for state representative, the "walk in the park" option?

Or lieutenant governor, an office, he might very well be able to pick off?  But will he be willing to stake his future on a tax hike promising Quinn or Hynes?

He could run for one of the financial offices where he could use his banking background?

In any event, it's past Labor Day.

Folks are waiting in McHenry County.

Vacating the legislative seat could set off quite a primary election among Republicans.  Maybe a Democrat will even file to replace Franks.

= = = = =
In the photo of the Rod Blagojevich Impeachment Committee hearing, State Rep. Jack Franks shakes hands with U.S. Senator Roland Burris after Burris' testimony.

Published first on McHenry County Blog.

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After Hours Use of Jack Franks' Office Scheduled for Health Care Lobbying

by Cal Skinner

One of the friends of McHenry County Blog has discovered that Democratic Party State Rep. Jack Franks' Woodstock office is going to be used Tuesday, September 1st, to lobby citizens for President Barack Obama's health care reform plan. The "host" is Lawrence Glowacki, as you can see from the bottom image.

Here's what the Organizing for America web page says:

The Details

McHenry County: Phone Bank for Health Care (Health Care Phonebank)

HcHenry and Northern Kane county OFA, HCAN and NW Suburbs for Obama will be hosting a phone bank for health care reform at the offices of State Representative Jack Franks in Woodstock. Our objectives are to mobilize supporters, while reaching out to the undecided to answer their questions. Please join us at this very pivotal time, to advocate for health care reform in our country.

Phone bank training will be provided for first-timers.
Bring your cell phones.

So far, one person has signed up.

You can click to enlarge the images.

Meanwhile, the sign in front of Franks office says,

OUT KIDS ARE
BACK IN SCHOOL
DRIVE SAFELY

Posted first on McHenry County Blog, where there is more information about local Democratic Party activities here and here.

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Dan Hynes' Supporters Prospect in Jack Franks' Back Yard

by Cal Skinner

Imagine my surprise to be on the receiving end of a fund raising pitch for State Comptroller Dan Hynes' gubernatorial campaign.

I don't mean because I'm a Republican precinct committeeman.

I mean because it came from one of Jack Frank's heavy hitting McHenry County constituents.

My understanding is that it being distributed to active McHenry County Democrats.

The solicitation in question is for a Wednesday, August 26th, event at the River East Art Center, starting at 5 o'clock for the heavy hitters, 5:30 for ordinary mortals who can ante up $250.

It might be a signal for the state representative with the big campaign fund to announce what intentions he has for next year.

Having one's gubernatorial ambition mentioned once in a while after being repeatedly ignored is not enough to win a contested statewide primary election against appointed Governor Pat Quinn and Hynes.

Posted first on McHenry County Blog.

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Chris Kennedy Decides to Stay "Underground;" How about Jack Franks?

by Cal Skinner

Michael Sneed reports that Merchandise Mart honcho Chris Kennedy is "underground" concerning his candidacy for whatever.

He is so underground that he refuses to talk to WBBM-TV political reporter Mike Flannery. Flannery expressed his distaste (or, maybe, it was jealousy) when he appeared on WTTW's "Week in Review" recently.

= = = = =
The Sun-Times is reporting that Kennedy is running for nothing.
= = = = =

Also among the missing as far as political ambitions go is McHenry County's Democratic Party State Representative Jack Franks.

Franks floated the notion that he was considering running for governor in the Northwest Herald, but the "great mentioner" hasn't been mentioning Franks' name since State Comptroller Dan Hynes made it clear that he would challenge appointed Governor Pat Quinn in the Democratic Party primary election.

No word from him since he returned from a family fishing trip in northern Ontario.

Except a letter opposing McHenry County's permitting slot machines. He sent it to McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler, a known gambling proponent.

Such a letter was obviously aimed at the conservative voters in his western and northern McHenry County district.

A sizable number picketed him and State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Barrington Hills) about co-sponsoring House Bill 2354 in front of Franks' office on a blistering March, 2009, Saturday. Both state representatives retreated.

My guess Franks will be unwilling to roll the dice for higher office in what is shaping up to be a Republican election year.

In spite of massive contributions from his family.

All that name identification and no where to go but the ice cream social at the Wonder Lake Water Ski Show.

Oops. That was when he was in Canada, wasn't it?

= = = = =
The Wonder Lake Water Ski Show picture is from 2008.

Posted first at McHenry County Blog.

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Jack Franks Not Being Mentioned for Governor

by Cal Skinner

State Comptroller Dan Hynes announced he was going to take on an "indecisive" Governor Pat Quinn in the Democratic Party primary election Thursday.

In the ABC-TV Six O'clock News report of Hynes' candidacy, McHenry County State Representative Jack Franks' name was not mentioned.

African-American Metro-East State Senator James F. Clayborne, Jr., was mentioned as a possible gubernatorial candidate.

As I have observed before, being ignored is one of the worst things that can happen to a politician.

That's been the rule, rather than the exception, since July.

Meanwhile, if you read McHenry County Blog carefully two days ago, you know where Franks was.

He and his buddies were probably discussing the options I suggest a month ago.

Franks did escape being named as the sponsor of his hopelessly compromised gubernatorial recall constitutional amendment in a Chicago Tribune editorial yesterday:

Quinn supports giving citizens the power to recall public officials, as do we. But the measure waiting in the Senate is just a bit of Hokum--it allows for the recall only of the governor, protecting every other elected official in the state.

But he did get a bill signed Friday.

Posted first on McHenry County Blog.

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Tribune Giving Jack Franks No Respect

by Cal Skinner

I mentioned that the Chicago Tribune's coverage of the Democratic Party primary for governor ignored McHenry County State Rep. Jack Franks in its Saturday article.

Being ignored is the cruelest thing a paper can do to a politician.

As I was reading my Tribune Monday, I noticed that political reporter Rick Pearson continues the trend.

It's a story about U.S. Senator Dick Durbin staying neutral in a race between appointed Governor Pat Quinn and State Comptroller Dan Hynes.

Not a word about Franks' ambition.

Perhaps our McHenry County Democrat should concentrate on lieutenant governor, state treasurer or state comptroller, none of which have incumbents running for re-election. That was my suggestion July 9th.

After I finished writing this article yesterday afternoon, I heard Franks quoted on WBEZ, public radio in Chicago, on the way to McHenry County College's tax hike preparation meeting. That's St. Louis' tax hike specialist's Unicom-ARC latest Northern Illinois project.

He said he was willing to go on the offensive against both Quinn and Hynes.

Posted first at McHenry County Blog.

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Jack Franks Meets with the Mayor

Yesterday, I wrote about McHenry County Democrat State Rep. Jack Frank's Friday.

Franks rolled out evidence of spending big bucks in his campaign disclosure. Look at the contributions' side of Franks' D-2. No contribution limits yet, remember.

The display of ready cash coming in big chunks should make second tier Democrats contemplating a statewide race (like Julie Hamos) give new respect to the resources Franks can bring to the table on behalf of his political ambitions.

Even first tier candidates like State Comptroller Dan Hynes probably does not have the family money to match Franks'.

What's Franks interested in?

My guesses are here.

He told the Northwest Herald he was interested in running for governor and, I guess, Franks could play the role that Mike Howlett took when Chicago ward bosses threw everything into defeating self-styled reform Democrat Dan Walker in 1976.

Franks has never portrayed himself as an organization guy, even as he has taken money from every union he could tap, including teachers' unions.

Not only did Franks display his financial resources Friday, but he was on WTTW's Chicago Tonight again.

And that wasn't all that happened.

The McHenry County Democrat was granted a face-to-face with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.

My guess is that in their heart of hearts that they are pretty close in political views.

The political arena in Chicago has, of course, resulted in Daley moving left.

Franks has shown similar leftward movement on abortion and gun control during the past year. But on abortion, at least, he backed off.

It will be interesting to see how Franks will modify his stands as he moves from conservative McHenry County to the liberal electorate that rules statewide Democratic primary elections.

No one would suggest those who control the Democratic Party statewide are not composed of tax eaters.

I can't wait to see how they will react to Franks' current opposition to an income tax hike.

Published first on McHenry County Blog, where there is information about Jack Franks you won't find anywhere else.

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Shakedown Street

by Cal Skinner

While I was out getting the withheld-since-February, now released sweetheart contract the McHenry County College Board so generously financed out of something approaching $300,000 of our tax dollars, I noticed this bumper sticker on an older car with a round baby walker-rocker in back.

It was so, so appropriate to a new type of fund raising committee working its way through the legislative process in Springfield.

It's called a “constituent services committee.”

People like State Rep. Jack Franks regularly spend more money on their district office operations than provided by their office allowances. Campaign fund money pays for the rest.

Skip Saviano once told me his whole district office operation was financed with campaign money.

By using campaign money, legislators can operate overtly politically.

After all, campaign money is for running campaigns.

You read the definition of such a committee below and tell me if there any political restrictions:

“'Constituent services committee' means a political committee organized by an elected public official to accept contributions and make expenditures solely to defray the costs related to constituent services and upkeep of that official's office.”

The process is ripe for abuses.

“Sorry, Mam, we can't help you if you don't contribute to our constituent services committee.”

I am not suggesting that skillful politicians like Franks or Saviano would do that, but don't be surprised if you see such a scandal after this law takes effect.

If Congressmen have such a creature, a long-time congressional aide was not aware of it.

Friday in a last minute switcheroo, Franks has been made House Speaker Mike Madigan's first chief co-sponsor on this House Bill 7.
Posted first at McHenry County Blog, open for business this session weekend.

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Franks, Beaubien: "RETREAT!"

The pressure from the Northwest Herald newspaper ad, the protesting on a very cold Saturday in front of State Rep. Jack Franks' Route 47 office, the YouTube video of lament and anger, the letters from Cardinal Francis George and Bishop Doran and countless individual contacts between constituents and the two McHenry County legislators must have gotten to them.

On the day the expand-abortion-rights-bill-as -as-Personal-PAC-could-image was temporarily aborted, both Franks and State Rep. Mark Beaubien withdrew their names as co-sponsors of House Bill 2354. (Click to enlarge.) That's what I first read on Illinois Review.

They both understand that intensity counts in politics.

Beaubien may be able to beat an underfunded pro-life challenger, but not having a primary opponent is a lot less stressful and cheaper than having one.

And, if you can see and hear intensity in this YouTube video, you are tone deaf. Be alert and you may even see someone who would be willing to run for state representative motivated by this issue.

I still think Franks is posturing to run for statewide office, but he might be trying to minimize the cost to his local base of support--just in case he doesn't decide to run for attorney general, just in case Lisa Madigan decides for run for re-election, rather than for governor against Pat Quinn.

Posted first on McHenry County Blog.

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Cardinal, Jack Franks' Constituents Weigh in on HB 2354

At last weekend's services at Catholic Church services in the Chicago Archdiocese a letter from Cardinal Francis George was distributed in church bulletins.


And, today, McHenry County residents delivered multiple messages via a YouTube production by Michael Brown of Testimony Pictures to House Bill 2354 co-sponsors State Representatives Jack Franks and Mark Beaubien.

The Cardinal also speaks to House Bill 2354, the bill which stimulated McHenry County pro-lifers to run an ad urging the withdrawal of support from the two.

And also stimulated the demonstration in front of State Rep. Franks' Route 47 office.

Cardinal George emphasizes the removal of “the right to conscientious objection to abortion and related procedures for all health care workers.”

Rarely has the Catholic Church been this fully engaged in Springfield politics.

But as often happens when zealots take complete control, they try to push through legislative language which activates the other side. In this case, the rabidly pro-abortion Personal PAC overplayed its hand. Now it has the Catholic Church's hierarchy with which to contend.

The bill “will make it impossible for Catholic hospitals to continue to be places where life is always respected, where no one is deliberately killed,” the Cardinal explains.

He evokes Abraham Lincoln's 1844 defense of Catholics' “rights of conscience,” even though his Whig Party is described as “often anti-Catholic.”

The entire entire letter follows:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

In the midst of Lent, with its drama of sin and grace, of evil and good, I write about a threat to our freedom to practice our religion in our State.

Before the Illinois General Assembly there is a proposal (HB 2354, the “Reproductive Health and Access Act”) that would remove the right to conscientious objection to abortion and related procedures for all health care workers.

Thirty years ago, we were told that abortion is a rare but necessary tragedy and that abortion providers should not be legally punished.

Today we are being told that abortion is a human right and that those who qualify it in any manner or who will not provide it should be legally punished.

This proposed law will drive Catholic doctors and nurses from health care and will make it impossible for Catholic hospitals to continue to be places where life is always respected, where no one is deliberately killed.

In our country, we recognize conscientious objection to war, even though defending one’s country is a noble and moral act.

We recognize the conscientious objection of those doctors who will not cooperate in administering the death penalty, even for terrible crimes.

Why do some Illinois legislators want to take away conscientious objection to abortion?

The enemies of human life and religious freedom in Illinois are well funded.

Pressure on legislators is great and is increasing.

I ask you to contact your Representative this week to express your dismay that the Illinois legislature, elected democratically, would debate a bill that removes freedom of conscientious decision-making for health care workers as a condition of their employment.

If, as we are told, the State should not come between a doctor and a mother, then surely all can agree that the State should not come between a health care worker and God.

We have, unfortunately, had to get used to the fact that our laws no longer protect unborn human life; now we are to get used to the fact that our laws will no longer protect conscience.

In 1844, Abraham Lincoln broke with his own party, the often anti-Catholic Whigs, and proposed:

“Resolved, that the guarantee of the rights of conscience, as found in our Constitution, is most sacred and inviolable, and one that belongs no less to the Catholic, than to the Protestant; and that all attempts to abridge or interfere with these rights, either of Catholic or Protestant, directly or indirectly, have our decided disapprobation, and shall ever have our most effective opposition.”

Illinois HB 2354 betrays the legacy of Lincoln in his home State.

This proposed law will rend the already fragile garment of our civic unity and further alienate many from our government. Catholics and all people of good will should work to ensure its defeat. I also ask you to thank those legislators who are courageously opposing HB 2354 and to pray for those who are supporting it. To contact your legislator, please go to www.ilga.gov, or call 312-368-1066.

Thank you and God bless you.



Francis Cardinal George, OMI
Archbishop of Chicago

Other stories that might be of interest:

3-28-9 Saturday Demonstration in Front of Jack Franks' Woodstock Office

3-30-9 Anatomy of a Demonstration

3-31-9 HB 2354 Video Shows Disappointment, Pleas for Changing of Mind and Promises of Opposition

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Party Sign Differences

In Woodstock there are two well-placed signs with movable letters.

One is on Route 14 and has Republican State Senator Pam Althoff's and State Rep. Mike Tryon's names on it.

The other is on Route 47 on the west south side of the railroad overpass. It is outside of Democratic Party State Rep. Jack Franks' office.

Friday on the way up Route 14 to Camp Lakota for a First Methodist Church of Crystal Lake Cub Scout Pack 158 winter campout, I saw the Republican message:

SUPPORT
SPECIAL
ELECTION

Not exactly topical since Rolland Burris has already taken office as Illinois' junior U.S. Senator.

Driving past the Franks sign I read,

JACK TO TESTIFY
IN SPRINGFIELD
ON IMPEACMENT

Franks' sign talks of something that will be on the news this week.

I'd say that Franks won the contest on which sign has the most relevant message this past weekend.

Of course, the Franks sign is easier to modify.

But click on the Franks' photo and see how frayed the state flag is.

Posted first on McHenry County Blog.

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Jack Franks Featured on WLS Radio Talk Show: "I've Never Worn a Wire"

by Cal Skinner

I was doing some shopping and between stores happened onto Bruce DuMont's “Beyond the Beltway” radio talk show on WLS-Radio Sunday night.

DuMont was talking about Governor Rod Blagojevich's refusal to resign, which I predicted the Friday before last.

I'll get to what McHenry County's Democrat State Representative had to say in a minute, but, before I do, let me try to quote what host DuMont said Democratic political consultant James Carville said on some TV show Sunday morning:

“Everyday Rod Blagojevich stays in office does damage to the Democratic Party.”

Republican Bruno Behrend had previously given the same advice on DuMont's show:

“The faster you get rid of this guy, the faster you stop the bleeding (of the Democratic Party).”

Indeed, although I was otherwise occupied Saturday night, it would seem to me there would have been a follow-up to December 13th's opening skit about Blagojevich's and his wife's “bleeping” language.

Especially since Blagojevich made his

“I am not a crook”

speech on Friday and was all over the national news because of it.

But, back to Franks.

“I think it could be wrapped up pretty quickly...shortly after the first of the year,” Franks, a member of the impeachment committee told DuMont.

He said that the committee will “continue to get evidence and hear from other witnesses...(expecting to decide) on what to put in articles of impeachment.

Any new evidence that might be involved in the U.S. Attorney's criminal investigation will depend on what Fitzgerald allows, Franks indicated.

He specifically mentioned he would like to know the details of the woman who gave Blagojevich's daughter $1,500 for a birthday present, then got a job in Whiteside County and next was transferred to her home county of Cook.

“The potential to do damage is his only trump card,” Franks said suggesting he did not think the governor would resign.

In a discussion about Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s having worked with the U.S. Attorney's Office prior to becoming Candidate 5 in the criminal complaint against Blagojevich, Franks revealed,

“I've never worn a wire.”

Franks stuck to his position that the replacement for President-elect Barack Obama should be elected.

= = = = =
That's Bruno Behrend hold the bumper sticker urging a "Yes" vote on Con-Con at the Decatur Republican State Convention in June. Governor Rod Blagojevich is seen on national ABC news in the center. State Rep. Jack Franks is shown on the WTTW Chicago Tonight show the night the Governor was arrested.

Posted first on McHenry County Blog.

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Dems Gather at Stage Left Cafe for Presidential Debate

While my family was playing Bugopoly at the kitchen table, McHenry County Democrats gathered last night in Woodstock's too appropriately named Stage Left Cafe to watch the last presidential debate. To learn more about what they did, you can read the party's press release below.

I wonder if they had “Energized Democrat” tee shirts the way the Republicans do.

ENERGIZED McHENRY COUNTY DEMS PACK WOODSTOCK RALLY

CRYSTAL LAKE—Local Democrats and Barack Obama supporters packed the Stage Left Café in Woodstock to capacity Wednesday evening for an old fashion political rally before The Presidential Debates.

Representative Jack Franks opened the evening with an acknowledgment that Obama had energized the electorate and helped transform the political landscape of McHenry County. He called on the audience to take that energy and apply it to candidates all down the ticket on the local level.

Robert Kaempfe, candidate for the General Assembly from the 64th District pledged to “lead by example” on issues like energy independence. Pointing to the incumbent state’s attorney’s billing of personal expenses to tax payers Auditor candidate Kerry Jullian and State’s Attorney candidate Thomas Cynor each attacked the culture of arrogance and entitlement of entrenched Republican leadership. They pledged fiscal responsibility, transparency and integrity in office.

Candidates for County Board paraded to the microphone to call for diversity of opinion on the Board. James McTague (D-1), Jill Mawhinney and Anita Harmon (D-2), Kathy Bergan Schmidt (D-3), Paula Yensen (D-5), and Bob Ludwig (D-6) hammered away on issues of accountability to tax payers, land use planning, groundwater preservation, and better government.

Meg Murray Bradshaw of Northwest Suburbs of Chicago for Obama called for volunteers to phone bank and travel to battleground states for Obama. Several attendees signed up for trips to Wisconsin.

16th Congressional District Candidate Robert Abboud arrived from a Rockford newspaper endorsement interview just in time to fire up the crowd with an impassioned call to arms. He said that the magnitude of the country’s problems in the face of the current economic emergency truly made this “the most critical election of our lifetimes.” Change, he said, must be secured from the “top of the ticket down t o the most local race.” Abboud told his cheering listeners to each find “at least 16 Republicans or uncommitted independents” and convince them to vote for that change.

A highlight of the rally was a special auction.

Noting the ugly turn of the campaign as John McCain’s fortunes have waned, Cynor, who has coordinated the Democratic Party’s yard sign operation, noted that many of the more than 500 Obama campaign signs placed in the county have been stolen or vandalized. In one case, signs were vandalized three times and the home of the sign host was broken into and defaced. One of those vandalized signs was framed and put up for auction “to show that we cannot be intimidated.” The spirited auction ran up the price to $2,000 and was won by Cynor himself. Proceeds will go to supporting local Democratic candidates.

The crowd stayed to watch the Presidential debate on a big screen TV. They cheered Obama when he landed telling points and hooted at McCain’s perceived misstatements and attacks on Obama.

Members of the crowd departed with unabashed enthusiasm taking with them buttons, bumper stickers, yard signs and a renewed commitment.

= = = = =
Photos were provided by Patrick Murfin. At the top is State Rep. Jack Franks. Next is 64th District state rep. candidate Robert Kaempfe. Below the crowd seen is 16th District congressional candidate Robert Abboud and state's attorney candidate Tom Cynor.

Published first at McHenry County Blog, where you can find out what is happening in McHenry County and area legislative races, such as Ron Wait's, Mark Beaubien's, Mike Tryon's, the Bill Gentes-Dan Duffy state senate race, the Don Manzullo-Robert Abboud and the Melissa Bean-Steve Greenberg congressional races.

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Another Outrageous Rumor about Democrats

Last Monday, McHenry County Blog presented evidence that the Democratic Party is behind the emerald ash borer infestation entering McHenry County. You can tell by the marks the pests make when they leave the trees.

Today, we look at what the nefarious Rod Blagojevich has planned for his nemesis State Rep. Jack Franks.

Here is what a much more skillful observer than I has discovered:

“In a stunning development today Governor Rod Blagojevitch announced a plan to train rabid Illinois bats to eat West-Nile virus infected mosquitoes and then fly into Jack Franks' office to die.

"Balgojevtich said the choice of Franks office for the state bad deathsite based on the recommendation of a bipartisan commission which he plans to appoint next month.”

No changes were made in this submission to McHenry County Blog, where this story was published first.

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Brian Sager Being Mayor

Previously I mentioned that Woodstock Mayor Brian Sager looked like he was running for state representative.

And, as a Republican

Not this year.

But when and if Democratic Party State Representative Jack Franks decided to roll the dice and run for statewide office.

The Northwest Herald’s Danielle Guerra shot marvelous video of the Patriot Riders’ welcome home celebration for U.S. Army Spc-4 Keith Lee to Woodstock.

I particularly like her shot showing the Woodstock Square's cobble stones and the flags from below. (The latter reminded me of the flag picture I got at the Washington Monument.)

Doing the mayorally welcome home thing was Sager.

I wonder if it was the first time he spoke in public about the Iraq War.

Posted first on McHenry County Blog.

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Jack Franks: "Not Yet"

Yesterday, McHenry County Blog reported on Chicago Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed's surmising that State Rep. Jack Franks would announce for governor against Rod Blagojevich at an upcoming Chicago fund raiser co-hosted by Blagojevich father-in-law Chicago Alderman Dick Mell.

Both Jack Franks and his father, Herb Franks, have gone fishing with Mell for years, accompanied by various Illinois Supreme Court justices and others.

It appears that the Northwest Herald decided to check out Sneed's Sunday report Thursday. Kevin Craver called him and got the answer that he would not announce at the fund raiser.

Franks told Craver:

“I’m certainly not ruling it out – I’m going to meet with people over the summer and get their ideas, and make a decision at the right time. I also want to see what happens in the November election, whether we have a President Obama or not.”

Maybe he'll decide he would rather be a federal judge...although the odds would have been better if Hillary Clinton, his candidate for the Democratic Party nomination, was going to be the general election candidate.

Posted first at McHenry County Blog.

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Jack Franks Snags a Democratic National Convention Delegate Slot

Primary election night was not a good one for State Representative Jack Franks.

Oh, it was OK as far as his nomination for state representative was concerned.

Hard not win a non-contested primary.

But he was also on the ballot for delegate to the Democratic National Convention pledged to United State Senator Hillary Clinton.

Look at the election returns:

(WON) Charles E. Jefferson (Obama) 41,173
(WON) Mary Tuit (Obama) 40,057
Eleanor (Bobbie) Colbert (Obama) 35,520
(WON) Sunil Puri (Obama) 35,520
Victory Bell (Clinton) 25,694
Jack Franks (Clinton) 25,229
(WON) Barbara A. Giolitto (Clinton) 24,044
Martha P. Logemann (Clinton) 23,695

According to Republican Party rules, the four Barack Obama delegates would have won. After all, they got the most votes.

But the Democrats play by proportional representation rules, which I freely admit to not completely understanding. Since Clinton got more that 15% of the vote, she was entitled to one delegate.

The winners were the first male for Obama, the first female for Obama, then the next male for Obama and, finally, the first female for Clinton.

Two men, two women.

And, even though Franks and the other Clinton-pledged male on the ballot ahead of him got more votes than the first Clinton woman, she gets to go to the convention representing the 16th congressional district.

As an aside, I'd observe that the Democratic Party does not seem too democratic.

But, not to worry. The state Democratic Party came to the rescue of Jack Franks.

And to rescue of 16th District Clinton supporter Victory Bell.

The Obama and Clinton campaigns agreed the following seven party leaders and elected officials pledged to Clinton would be named delegates:

Victory Bell
George Cardenas
Kevin Conlon
Jack Franks
Sylvia Leonberger
Shirley McCombs
Alice Palmer

Click to enlarge the images.

Posted first on McHenry County Blog.

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Jack Franks Dominates Springfield News Wednesday, But Fails To Earn Sun-Times Headline

Reading my Chicago Sun-Times at breakfast yesterday, I noticed two stories about Springfield.

One was of about State Rep. Jack Franks' committee hearing about the $1 million promised to Pilgrim Baptist Church after the landmark building burned down.

The million went to the unrelated private Loop Lab School run by convicted felon Chandra Gill, it turns out, which Governor Rod Blagojevich had to pardon for the school to get the money.

Franks got his name in the paper on page 4, but appears in the headline only as “Rep.”

A second article on the same page tells of Franks' amending his recall constitutional amendment to exclude judges.

But no headline credit for Franks again.

He deserves one and there it is right on top.

Franks and his father Herb go fishing with judges and retired judges.

Posted first on McHenry County Blog.

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Aim High

There was so much good stuff at the two meetings I attended Wednesday night. The McHenry County Democrats slated candidates for state's attorney, auditor and two for county board in my district.

At my second meeting, the Legislative Budget Hearing at McHenry County College, Al Wilson, long-time steward of the Lake in the Hills fen testified before State Senator Pam Althoff and State Representative Jack Franks and Mike Tryon.

Wilson related going down to Springfield to hold a press conference with Althoff in an attempt to restore money that Governor Rod Blagojevich had cut out of the Department of Natural Resources budget.

Wilson spoke of the man in DNR he called for advice.

“Because of the cuts, that one guy is now responsible for all the nature preserves from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River,” Wilson told the legislators.

He reported that such staff are now using leased equipment and that Blagojevich now wants an additional 14% departmental budget cut.

“When you see the governor, kick him in the knees... and aim high,”

were Wilson's parting comments.

There was widespread support evident in the crowd, which numbered about 100 when I arrived about an hour late, as there was for Franks' constitution amendment to allow recall of state officials when it was brought up.

Posted first as a "Message of the Day" on McHenry County Blog.

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