Bob Franks

For other people named Robert Franks, see Robert Franks (disambiguation).

Bob Franks
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 7th district
In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2001
Preceded by	Matthew J. Rinaldo
Succeeded by	Mike Ferguson
Personal details
Political party	Republican

Robert Douglas Franks (September 21, 1951-September 9, 2010) was a Republican politician. He was a former U.S. Representative from New Jersey.

Biography

Franks grew up in Glen Rock, for a while in suburban Chicago, and then in Summit. He graduated from DePauw University in 1973 and from law school at Southern Methodist University in 1976. He had been involved in Republican politics while growing up, including the races of Senator Charles H. Percy. As a teenager, he returned to his home state. While in Summit, New Jersey, he became involved with the Young Republicans and the Kean for Assembly races. Franks helped to found the Union County Young Republicans Franks then served as an aide, consultant and campaign manager to several congressman including Jim Courter and Dean Gallo as well as Governor Thomas Kean. The primary profession of Franks, however, was that of a newspaper publisher.

In 1979, Franks was a candidate for Union County Freeholder when State Senator Peter J. McDonough resigned. Assemblyman Donald DiFrancesco ran for the Senate, and Franks switched to the Assembly race. He defeated Marie Kissebeth, the Berkley Heights mayor, at the Republican convention.

When he was redistricted into a Union/Essex district in 1981 and Essex Republicans demanded an Assembly seat, Franks survived and the Union Republicans dumped another incumbent, William Maguire. He was re-elected in 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989 and 1991.

While in the Assembly, he also served two terms as chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee, 1987-89 and 1990-92. In the second term, finding widespread voter discontent with Governor Jim Florio's tax hikes, he led the Republican Party to winning veto-proof majorities in both houses of the Legislature.

He was succeeded in the Assembly by Alan Augustine.

In 1992 Franks was elected to the U. S. House of Representatives (succeeding Matt Rinaldo), and served four terms in the House from 1993 to 2001. While he was a congressman, he was a member of the Transportation Committee and involved with transportation issues. He was known as a budget "hawk" and was a strong supporter of the Contract with America, including voluntary terms limits.

In 2000, Franks gave up his House seat (true to his "term limits" vow) to become the Republican candidate to the open Senate seat from New Jersey. However, he was defeated by Democrat Jon Corzine.

In this race Franks was far outspent by Corzine, a former CEO, by 48 million dollars, yet still was the closest the Republicans have ever come to winning a New Jersey Senate seat since they last won one in 1972. He was defeated for the Republican nomination for New Jersey governor in 2001 by Bret Schundler.

Franks entered the 2001 governor's race reluctantly, following the withdrawal of former Governor Donald DiFrancesco, after having previous announced that he would not be a candidate. It is believed this late start cost him the primary as Schundler had a big head start in campaigning and fundraising.

Franks remains involved in New Jersey politics and is often mentioned as a potential candidate for high offices, but in the past Franks has discouraged such speculation. Many think that his next public office, if any, will be appointive.

Franks served as President of the Health Care Institute of New Jersey. There was speculation he might run again for Congress when his successor, Mike Ferguson, announced in 2007 that he would not seek reelection in 2008. However, Franks then declined to declare, saying "Representing the people of Central New Jersey in the House of Representatives from 1993 to 2001 was one of the important and rewarding experiences of my life; however I find my work at the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey very fulfilling and I'm enjoying nights and weekends with my family... I have no desire to run for Congress next year."

Franks died of cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York City on September 9, 2010.

Electoral history

New Jersey's 7th congressional district: Results 1992–1998

Year		Democrat	Votes	Pct		Republican	Votes	Pct		3rd Party	Party	Votes	Pct		3rd Party	Party	Votes	Pct		3rd Party	Party	Votes	Pct
1992		Leonard Sendelsky	105,761	43%		Bob Franks	132,174	53%		Eugene J. Gillespie	Independent	4,043	2%		Bill Campbell	No Nonsense Government	2,612	1%		Spencer Layman	Libertarian	1,964	1%	*
1994		Karen Carroll	64,231	39%		Bob Franks	98,814	60%		James J. Cleary	LaRouche Was Right	2,331	1%	*
1996		Larry Lerner	97,285	42%		Bob Franks	128,821	55%		Dorothy DeLaura	Independent	4,076	2%		Nicholas Gentile	Independent	1,693	1%		Robert G. Robertson	Independent	696	<1%
1998		Maryanne Connelly	65,776	44%		Bob Franks	77,751	53%		Richard C. Martin	Independent	3,007	2%		Darren Young	Independent	1,508	1%

*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 1992, John L. Kucek running as an America First Populist received 844 votes and Kevin Michael Criss running under People's Congressional Preference received 684 votes. In 1994, Claire Greene received 481 votes. In 2000, Shawn Gianella received 386 votes and Mary T. Johnson received 283 votes.

2000 U.S. Senate Race — Republican Primary

Candidate	Pct		Candidate	Pct		Candidate	Pct
Bob Franks	36%		William Gormley	34%		Others	30%

2000 United States Senate election, Senate Class 1, New Jersey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jon S. Corzine	1,511,237	50
	Republican	Bob Franks	1,420,267	47
	Independent	Bruce Afran	32,841	1
	Independent	Pat DiNizio	19,312	1
	Independent	Emerson Ellett	7,241	<1%
	Independent	Dennis A. Breen	6,061	<1%
	Independent	J. M. Carter	5,657	<1%
	Independent	Lorraine LaNeve	3,836	<1%
	Independent	Gregory Pason	3,365	<1%
	Independent	Nancy Rosenstock	3,309	<1%
	Independent	George Gostigian	2,536	<1%
Majority			90,970	3
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

• United States Congress. "Bob Franks (id: F000349)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.