Although some view Democratic state Rep. Jack Franks’ decision to not run for re-election in District 63 as a move that places Republicans at a huge advantage going into the November election, conservative House candidate Steve Reick says that since Franks no longer has to worry about re-election, voters are now seeing his “true colors.”
In a recent blog post on his website, Reick, who is running to represent Franks’ district, criticized Franks for voting with the majority to pass Senate Bill 2964, a bill that would require the prevailing wage be set by collective bargaining agreements.
“This is the kind of bill that just screamed for a ‘Present’ vote before last week,” Reick wrote. “Now that he’s freed from the shackles of running for re-election, we’re seeing his true colors.”
S.B. 2964 was heavily pushed by organized labor, particularly Operating Engineers, and would limit the Illinois Department of Labor’s capacity to calculate the prevailing wage throughout the state, should it become law.
Reick believes S.B. 2964 eliminates the voice of local government in determining local wage rates and that Franks' decision to vote for the bill shows the kind of “damage” he is capable of doing before retiring from the General Assembly.
“You may ask: ‘Hey, you aren’t running against Jack anymore, why should you care?’” Reick wrote. “The answer is simple: Franks still represents this district in Springfield, and is in a position to do a lot of damage before he leaves town. This is one example.”
Franks announced this spring that he would no longer seek re-election for the Illinois House, but would instead run for McHenry County board chairman, ending his 17-year tenure in the House.
When Franks initially ran to represent District 63 back in 1998, he pledged to only serve three terms. He is now serving his ninth.
Often clashing with fellow Democrats on budget and tax issues, Franks’ decision to leave the House was reportedly due to the state’s ongoing financial crisis and budget impasse.
“Jack may talk big about freezing property taxes, but votes like this one give the lie to that rhetoric,” Reick said. “Unless local governments are allowed to climb out from under the burden of wage scales imposed from afar, they’ll never be able to provide true property tax relief.”
Reick said McHenry County residents should be aware of what to expect if Franks is elected as chairman of the board.
“Also, in light of the county board’s recent vote to rescind its earlier support for the governor’s ‘Turnaround Agenda’, it’s important to keep the people of McHenry County informed as to what’s in store if Jack Franks is elected as county board chairman and brings along his slate of board candidates to rubber-stamp his agenda,” he wrote.
Franks will face off against Republican Mike Walkup, a Crystal Lake board member, in November.
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