Jack Darrow Franks

Background

Franks, Jack Darrow was born on October 2, 1963 in Belvidere, Illinois, United States. Son of Herbert Hoover and Eileen Rosalyn (Pepper) Franks.

Education

London School of Economics, London, England. University of Wisconsin-Madison (Bachelor of Arts, with honors and distinction, 1985). American University, Washington College of Law (Juris Doctor, cum laude, 1989).

Articles Editor, Administrative Law Journal, 1988-1989.

Member, Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, since 1989. Spoken languages: Portuguese and Spanish.

Career

The McHenry area district includes all or parts of Harvard, Marengo, Woodstock, Bulletin Valley, Wonder Lake, Illinois, Greenwood, McHenry, Fox Lake, Spring Grove, Johnsburg and Lakemoor. In the Illinois House of Representatives, Franks serves as chairman of the State Government Administration committee since 2003. Franks was first elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1998 defeating the incumbent by 138 votes to become one of the first Democrats to represent the largely Republican McHenry area in the Illinois General Assembly.

When Franks initially ran for office, he pledged to serve only three terms, however as of 2015 he is serving his ninth.

As Chair of the State Government Administration Committee, Franks called for the first audits of a sitting governor in the history of Illinois and was the first Democrat to openly criticize Rod Blagojevich. Presently, Franks serves on the Illinois Aging Committee, Public Utilities Committee, Chairman of the State Government Administration Committee, Chairman of the International Trade & Commerce Committee, and Vice-Chairman of the Veterans" Affairs Committee.

Outside of his role as State Representative, Franks is a practicing attorney at the law firm of Franks, Gerkin & McKenna. He holds two degrees: a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin/Madison and a law degree from the American University Washington College of Law.

Notable votes

Franks and a fellow Democrat, Representative Scott Drury, voted against a plan to tax people with seven-figure incomes, called by some a "millionaire"s tax", along with every Republican lawmaker, leaving the Democrats two votes shy of the 71 they need to move it forward.

Franks voted "present" on a labor vote in the House, where Democrats were attempting to override a veto by Governor Bruce Rauner on Bachelor of Science 1229, which would have empowered an arbitrator to settle negotiation disputes between public sector unions and the governor and would have impeded the Governor"s ability to force a "lock-out" of state workers during contract negotiations. The House failed to override the Governor"s veto by three votes.

Achievements

• JACK FRANKS has been listed as a reputable lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell.

Membership

Volunteer, Chicago Multiple Sclerosis Association, 1989. Member American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Chicago Council Foreign Relations, Brazilian American Cultural Committee.

Interests

• Avocations: Portuguese and Spanish studies, travel, fishing.

Connections

Father:

Herbert Hoover Franks

Mother:

Eileen Rosalyn (Pepper) Franks