Trent Franks

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Trent Franks
TrentFranks.JPG
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 8th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2013
Preceded by Ron Barber
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 2nd district
In office
January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by Ed Pastor
Succeeded by Ron Barber
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
from the 20th district
In office
1985–1987
Preceded by Glen Davis
Succeeded by Bobby Raymond
Personal details
Born (1957-06-19) June 19, 1957 (age 55)
Uravan, Colorado
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Josephine Franks
Children 2
Residence Glendale, Arizona
Alma mater Ottawa University
Occupation Oil executive, political researcher
Religion Southern Baptist [1]

Trent Franks (born June 19, 1957) is the U.S. Representative for Arizona's 8th congressional district, serving in Congress since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district, numbered as the 2nd District from 2003 to 2013, is located in the West Valley portion of the Valley of the Sun and includes Glendale, Surprise, Sun City, Peoria and part of western Phoenix.

Contents

Early life, education and career [edit]

Franks was born in Uravan, Colorado, a company town, the son of Juanita and Edward Taylor Franks.[2] He was born with a cleft lip and palate. After his parents separated, Franks took care of his younger siblings. While his parents took financial responsibility, he overtook the leadership role at home.[3]

Franks graduated from Briggsdale High School in Colorado in 1976.[4] Although Franks received a scholarship, he decided not to go to college immediately. Instead, he bought a drilling rig and moved to Texas to drill wells with his little brother and best friend. Franks then moved to Arizona in 1981, where he continued to drill wells.[3]

He completed a course of study at the Center for Constitutional Studies in Utah in 1987.[5] From 1989 to 1990, he attended the Arizona campus of Ottawa University.[6]

In September 2004, Franks told Franchising World that he had been a small business owner for more than 25 years.[7]

Early political career [edit]

In January 1987, he was appointed by Republican Governor Evan Mecham to head the Arizona Governor's Office for Children, which is a Cabinet level division of the Governor's office responsible for overseeing and coordinating state policy and programs for Arizona's children.

In late 1987, Franks founded the Arizona Family Research Institute, a nonprofit organization affiliated with James Dobson's Focus on the Family.[8] He was the Executive Director of the organization for four and a half years.[9]

In April 1988, after Mecham was impeached and removed from office, Franks and other appointees resigned their positions. Franks had been under investigation following an Associated Press report about his decision to spend nearly $60,000, without getting bids, for a conference at a former campaign contributor's hotel.[10] Later in 1988, Franks ran again for a legislative seat, moving to District 18 shortly before the filing deadline.[11] He was successful in the Republican primary but lost in the November general election.

In 1992, when Franks was chairman of Arizonans for Common Sense, one of the organization's efforts was a constitutional amendment on the November 1992 ballot in Arizona that banned most abortions.[12][13] The initiative lost, getting about 35 percent of the votes cast.

In August 1995, Arizonans for an Empowered Future, of which Franks was chairman, launched an initiative campaign to amend the state constitution, replacing the graduated state income tax with a flat 3.5 percent rate, and allowing parents to deduct the costs of private-school tuition.[14] The initiative was not one of those appearing on the ballot in 1996.

Franks worked for and later became president of Liberty Petroleum Corporation,[15] a small oil exploration company established in 1996.[16]

Franks served as a consultant to conservative activist Pat Buchanan's presidential campaign.[17]

U.S. House of Representatives [edit]

Committee assignments [edit]

Franks serves on the Judiciary Committee and the Armed Services Committee. Franks is also a member of the Republican Study Committee, the International Religious Freedom Caucus, the Tea Party Caucus, House Working Group on Judicial Accountability, House Working Group on Waste, Fraud and Abuse, the Liberty Caucus, the DUI Caucus, the Human Rights Caucus, the India Caucus, the Refugee Caucus, the Education Freedom Caucus, and is an associate member of the Congressional Hispanic Conference. Franks has also been active with Operation Smile.

Caucus Memberships [edit]

Political positions [edit]

The National Journal has ranked Franks among the "most conservative" members of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2009.[18] Franks is a staunch advocate of a federal prohibition of online poker. In 2006, he cosponsored H.R. 4411, the Goodlatte-Leach Internet Gambling Prohibition Act[19] and H.R. 4777, the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act.[20]

He opposes same-sex marriage and abortion.[21] In a 2010 interview, discussing the legacy of slavery which Franks denounced and described as a "crushing mark on America's soul", the congressman said, "Half of all black children are aborted. Far more of the African American community is being devastated by the policies of today than were being devastated by the policies of slavery."[22][23][24][25] Franks is a signer of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.[26] During the 2008 campaign, Franks stated that he is skeptical about global warming.[27]

On October 14, 2009, Franks joined with three fellow Representatives in calling for the investigation of CAIR (the Council on American-Islamic Relations) over allegations of trying to plant "spies," based on a CAIR memo indicating that they "will develop national initiatives such as Lobby Day, and placing Muslim interns in Congressional offices." The request came in the wake of the publication of a book, Muslim Mafia, the foreword of which had been penned by Representative Sue Myrick, that portrayed CAIR as a subversive organization allied with international terrorists.[28] CAIR has countered that these initiatives are extensively used by all advocacy groups and accused Franks and his colleagues of intending to intimidate American Muslims who "take part in the political process and exercise their rights."[29][30]

Franks supports the right to bear firearms. The interest group, Gun Owners of America, have given Franks high approval ratings.[31] In 2011, he voted to pass the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act.[32]

In 2010, Franks voted against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. He continues to oppose this law and government run health care, saying “the thought of Americans' health care decisions being put into the hands of an unimaginably large bureaucracy is a frightening prospect.”[33] He is not supported by American Public Health Association or The Children’s Health Fund.[34]

He has high approval ratings from Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council.[35] In November 2011 he voted to pass HR 2930 which authorizes crowdfunding for small businesses.

Rep. Franks presided over a hearing to ban abortions in the District of Columbia, in which he did not allow D.C.'s delegate to congress, Eleanor Holmes Norton, to testify. In doing so he stated that Congress has the authority to “exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever” in the District, even though the Democratic-leaning district is strongly opposed to the ban.[36]

Political campaigns [edit]

Franks at the 2011 Veterans Day parade in Phoenix, Arizona.

1984 [edit]

In 1984, while working as an engineer for an oil and gas royalty-purchasing firm, he began his political career by running for a seat in the Arizona House of Representatives, against incumbent Democrat Glen Davis, an attorney, in District 20 in central Phoenix. Franks, who was a member of the Arizona Right to Life organization and president of the Arizona Christian Action Council, campaigned against abortion and in favor of tougher child abuse laws. He defeated Davis by 155 votes.[37] In the state legislature, Franks served as vice-chairman of the Commerce Committee and Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Child Protection and Family Preservation.

1986 [edit]

Franks was defeated in his re-election bid in November 1986.[38]

1994 [edit]

Franks was a candidate in the 1994 Republican primary for Arizona's 4th congressional district. He lost to John Shadegg, who then won the general election.

2002 [edit]

When 3rd District Congressman Bob Stump decided to retire after 13 terms, Franks entered the race to succeed him. The district had been redrawn and renumbered the 2nd after redistricting, following the 2000 Census,[39] in which Arizona got two additional seats, and was heavily Republican.[40] The initial favorite in the race was Lisa Jackson Atkins, Stump's longtime chief of staff, whom Stump had endorsed as his successor. Atkins had long been very visible in the district (in contrast to her more low-key boss) to the point that many thought she was the district's representative. Franks narrowly defeated Atkins in the primary, along with five other Republicans, after contributing more than $300,000 of his own money to his campaign,[41] then won the November 2002 general election with 60 percent of the vote.[8]

2004, 2006, 2008 [edit]

In 2004, Franks faced unusually strong competition in the Republican primary from the more moderate Rick Murphy, but defeated him, winning 65% of the primary vote. He won re-election in November 2004 with 59% of the vote, the same percentage that he received in his 2006 and 2008 re-elections.

2010 [edit]

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona, 2010#District 2

Franks was challenged by Democratic nominee John Thrasher, Libertarian nominee Powell Gammill, and Write-In candidates William Crum and Mark Rankin.

Franks won against Charles Black in the Republican primary.

2012 [edit]

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona, 2012#District 8

For his first five terms, Franks represented a sprawling district comprising most of northwestern Arizona, including Lake Havasu City and the area around the Grand Canyon. However, the bulk of its vote was cast in the West Valley.

After Arizona's districts were redrawn as a result of the 2010 United States Census, Franks' district was renumbered as the 8th district and became a much more compact district located entirely in western Maricopa County. As evidence of how much the West Valley dominated the old 2nd, Franks retained 92 percent of his former constituents even as he lost 85 percent of his old district's land. He was handily reelected with 64 percent of the vote.

Electoral history [edit]

Arizona's 2nd congressional district: Results 2002–2010[42]
Year Democratic Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct
2002 Randy Camacho 61,217 36.55% Trent Franks 100,359 59.92% Edward R. Carlson Libertarian 5,919 3.53% *
2004 Randy Camacho 107,406 38.46% Trent Franks 165,260 59.17% Powell Gammill Libertarian 6,625 2.37% *
2006 John Thrasher 89,671 38.89% Trent Franks 135,150 58.62% Powell Gammill Libertarian 5,734 2.49% *
2008 John Thrasher 125,611 37.16% Trent Franks 200,914 59.44% Powell Gammill Libertarian 7,882 2.33% William Crum Green 3,616 1.07%
2010 John Thrasher 82,891 31.06% Trent Franks 173,173 64.89% Powell Gammill Libertarian 10,820 4.05% *

Personal life [edit]

 This section includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but the sources of this section remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (November 2010)

Franks and his wife, Josephine, have been married since 1980. In August 2008, a donor egg and surrogate were used to give birth to their twins. They are members of a Baptist Church.

Franks is currently Chairman of the Children's Hope Scholarship Foundation.

References [edit]

  1. ^ http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=34378
  2. ^ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/%7Ebattle/reps/franks.htm
  3. ^ a b Birhanemaskel, Millete (2002-11-20). "Congressman from Arizona creates buzz in Briggsdale". Greeley Tribune. Retrieved 2010-03-06. 
  4. ^ "Trent Franks". Classmates.com. Retrieved 2009-09-29. 
  5. ^ Associated Press (2002-08-12). "Primaries crowded for redrawn 2nd Congressional District". Kingman Daily Miner. Retrieved 2010-03-06. 
  6. ^ "Trent Franks". Vote-USA.org. Retrieved September 29, 2009. 
  7. ^ "U.S. Rep. Trent Franks (a Franchising World Q & A)(Interview)". Franchising World. September 1, 2004. 
  8. ^ a b Ken Hedler (December 18, 2002). "Franks seeks widening of school tax credits". Kingman Daily Miner. 
  9. ^ "Extended Biography of Congressman Trent Franks". Trent Franks Congressional website. Retrieved 2009-09-29. 
  10. ^ "Mecham aides quit, another will leave". Prescott Courier. Associated Press. April 8, 1988. p. 6A. 
  11. ^ "Campaign called 'dirtiest' in recent memory". Prescott Courier. Associated Press. September 11, 1988. p. 1. 
  12. ^ "Abortion ruling bodes ill for Arizona". Prescott Courier. Associated Press. June 29, 1992. p. 1B. 
  13. ^ "Politics of Abortion Likely to Inflame Elections in States". Miami Herald. July 1, 1992. 
  14. ^ William F. Rawson (August 2, 1995). "Arizona initiative seeks flat tax, credits for private school tuition". Kingman Daily Miner. Associated Press. 
  15. ^ Jonathan D. Salant (December 25, 2002). "A Richer Congress; Nearly Half of Incoming Freshmen are Millionaires". Associated Press. 
  16. ^ "Liberty Petroleum Corporation – Profile". Manta.com. Retrieved 2009-09-29. 
  17. ^ "GOP lawmaker clarifies remarks critical of Obama". Retrieved September 29, 2009. 
  18. ^ Roff, Peter (2010-02-26). "The Most Conservative and Most Liberal Members of Congress". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 2010-03-07. 
  19. ^ Thomas (Library of Congress): HR 4411
  20. ^ Thomas (Library of Congress): HR 4777
  21. ^ Associated Press (2007-02-14). "McCain courting Christian conservatives". MSNBC. Retrieved 2010-03-07. 
  22. ^ “”. "Representative Trent Franks". YouTube. Retrieved 2010-08-22. 
  23. ^ Leibovich, Mark (February 26, 2010). "A Tip on Slavery, Holocaust Talk". The New York Times. Retrieved May 26, 2010. 
  24. ^ "Trent Franks: Abortion Is Worse for Blacks Than Slavery Was " The Washington Independent". Washingtonindependent.com. 2010-02-26. Retrieved 2010-08-22. 
  25. ^ Fabian, Jordan. "GOPer: Abortion taking worse toll on blacks than slavery - The Hill's Blog Briefing Room". Thehill.com. Retrieved 2010-08-22. 
  26. ^ Current Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers
  27. ^ Sept. 11, 2008 10:39 AM (2008-09-11). "Head to Head: Congressional District 2". Azcentral.com. Retrieved 2010-08-22. 
  28. ^ Doyle, Michael, "Judge: Controversial 'Muslim Mafia' used stolen papers", Charlotte Observer, November 10, 2009, accessed November 17, 2009
  29. ^ Glenn Greenwald (October 15, 2009). "GOP House members call for investigation of Muslim political activity". Salon.com. 
  30. ^ Jordy Yager (October 14, 2009). "House Republicans accuse Muslim group of trying to plant spies". Capitol Hill Publishing Corp. 
  31. ^ 2011
  32. ^ [1], 2011
  33. ^ Trent Franks, [2], 2011
  34. ^ [3], 2011
  35. ^ [4], 2011
  36. ^ [5], 2012
  37. ^ "Republicans hold fast on Senate control". Mohave Daily Miner (UPI). November 7, 1984. p. 7. 
  38. ^ "Legislature results are split". Mohave Daily Miner (UPI). November 5, 1986. p. 16. 
  39. ^ Scott Thomsen (September 12, 2000). "Congress: Grijalva, Franks now front-runners in new districts". The Daily Courier. Associated Press. 
  40. ^ "In heavily GOP congressional district in Arizona, Trent Franks wins Republican nomination". Associated Press. September 15, 2002. 
  41. ^ Robert Gehrke (September 2, 2002). "Many Arizona House candidates financing own primary campaigns". The Daily Courier. Associated Press. 
  42. ^ "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Retrieved 2008-01-10. 

External links [edit]

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United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Ed Pastor		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 2nd congressional district
2003-2013		 Succeeded by
Ron Barber
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Ron Barber		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 8th congressional district
2013–present		 Incumbent
United States order of precedence
Preceded by
Mario Diaz-Balart
R-Florida		 United States Representatives by seniority
155th		 Succeeded by
Scott Garrett
R-New Jersey
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