Endorsement: McHenry County Board Chairman: Jack Franks

Since leaving his state representative post in Springfield and becoming McHenry County Board chairman, Democrat Jack Franks has led the board to lower its levy by nearly $10 million, rebate excess funds from the Valley Hi Nursing Home and generally has questioned spending in all realms.

The status quo hasn’t been acceptable, from department budgets to board member pay and benefits to the way that county offices, from the coroner to auditor to regional office of the superintendent, operate.

Many of those principles, less government and less spending, are those traditionally associated with the Republican Party.

Republican challenger Mike Buehler, a businessman running for his first politcal post, has shown that he plans to work together with fellow local Republicans.

That would mean less friction at the county level, but it also will mean less progress and resistance to the status quo.

The mark on Franks' record is an ongoing Illinois State Police investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. Franks, however, has not been charged with a crime.

“I’m not going to say much about it today besides saying once again that I’ve done nothing wrong,” Franks told the County Board in February.

Jack Franks is endorsed.