View source for Bob Franks

{{Short description|American politician (1951–2010)}}
{{other people||Robert Franks (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name            = Bob Franks
| image           = Congressman Bob Franks.jpg
| state           = [[New Jersey]]
| district        = {{ushr|NJ|7|7th}}
| term_start      = January 3, 1993
| term_end        = January 3, 2001
| predecessor     = [[Matthew John Rinaldo|Matt Rinaldo]]
| successor       = [[Mike Ferguson (politician)|Mike Ferguson]]
| state_assembly1 = New Jersey 
| district1       = [[New Jersey's 22nd legislative district|22nd]]
| term_start1     = January 1980
| term_end1       = January 1993
| alongside1      = [[William J. Maguire]] and [[Maureen Ogden]]
| predecessor1    = [[Donald DiFrancesco]]
| successor1      = [[Alan Augustine]]
| office2         = Chair of the [[New Jersey Republican State Committee|New Jersey Republican Party]]
| term_start2     = 1990
| term_end2       = 1992
| predecessor2    = [[Kathleen Donovan]]
| successor2      = [[Virginia Littell]]
| term_start3     = 1987
| term_end3       = 1989
| predecessor3    = [[Frank B. Holman]]
| successor3      = [[Kathleen Donovan]]
| birth_date      = {{birth date|1951|09|21}}
| birth_name      = Robert Douglas Franks
| birth_place     = [[Hackensack, New Jersey]], U.S.
| death_date      = {{death date and age|2010|04|09|1951|09|21}}
| death_place     = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
| party           = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse          = Frances Smith
| children        = 3
| occupation      = {{hlist|Politician|political consultant}}
| residence       = [[New Providence, New Jersey]], U.S.
| alma_mater      = [[DePauw University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Dedman School of Law|Southern Methodist University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
}}

'''Robert Douglas Franks''' (September 21, 1951 – April 9, 2010) was an American [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] politician who served as a [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] from [[New Jersey]].<ref>Obituary ''[[The Washington Post]]'', April 12, 2010.</ref><ref>Obituary ''[[The New York Times]]'', April 11, 2010; page A22.</ref>

==Early life==
Franks was born on September 21, 1951, in [[Hackensack, New Jersey]], the son of Norman A. Franks (1921–2000) and June E. Franks.  He grew up in [[Glen Rock, New Jersey]] before his family moved to suburban Chicago.  They returned to New Jersey, where Franks attended [[Summit High School (New Jersey)|Summit High School]].<ref>Dowling, Matthew J. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AC&p_theme=ac&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED49EFE4732AB7F&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "Election 2000 / For Franks, Family Life, Politics Go Hand In Hand"], ''[[The Press of Atlantic City]]'', October 29, 2000. Accessed February 28, 2011. "Franks, 49, was born in Hackensack and grew up in Glen Rock and Summit before attending college at DePauw University in Indiana."</ref><ref>Pizarro, Max. [https://observer.com/2010/04/new-jersey-bids-farewell-to-a-beloved-native-son-bob-franks-1951-2010/ "New Jersey bids farewell to a beloved native son: Bob Franks (1951-2010)"], ''[[The New York Observer]]'', April 17, 2010. Accessed October 14, 2018. "Kean's eulogy took the crowd back to Mr. Franks's early days in politics, when he graduated from Summit High School and went to work for the future governor – a 'pied piper,' who brought other young people with him to help the campaign, motivated by Mr. Franks's enthusiasm for the cause."</ref> He graduated from [[DePauw University]] in 1973 where he was President of the Student Senate, 
and from the [[Dedman School of Law]] at [[Southern Methodist University]] in 1976.

==Early Political Activities==
He had been involved in Republican politics while growing up, including the races of [[List of United States Senators from Illinois|Senator]] [[Charles H. Percy]]. As a teenager, he returned to his home state. While in [[Summit, New Jersey|Summit]], 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 of New Jersey|Governor]] [[Thomas Kean]]. The primary profession of Franks, however, was that of a newspaper publisher.

==New Jersey State Assemblyman==
In 1979, Franks was a candidate for [[Union County, New Jersey|Union County]] [[Board of County Commissioners (New Jersey)|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 [[Berkeley Heights, New Jersey|Berkeley Heights]] mayor, at the Republican convention.

When he was redistricted into the [[New Jersey's 22nd legislative district|22nd Legislative District]], a Union/Essex district in 1981 and Essex Republicans demanded an Assembly seat, Franks survived and the Union Republicans dumped another incumbent, [[William J. 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]].<ref>Leusner, Donna. "Alan Augustine, Scotch Plains mayor and assemblyman", ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', June 12, 2001.</ref>

==U.S. Congressman==
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.

Franks was the New Jersey campaign chairman for U.S. Rep. [[Jack Kemp]] in the campaign for the 1988 Republican presidential nomination. He endorsed New Jersey publisher [[Steve Forbes]] in 1996, and U.S. Rep. [[John Kasich]] in 2000.  Franks and Kasich served together on the House Budget Committee and became close friends.  Kasich is the godfather of Franks' eldest daughter, Kelly, and was one of the eulogizers at Franks' 2010 funeral.

===2000 U.S. Senate campaign===
{{Main|2000 United States Senate election in New Jersey}}
In [[United States Senate election in New Jersey, 2000|2000]], Franks gave up his House seat (true to his "term limits" vow) to become the Republican candidate to the open [[United States Senate|Senate]] seat from New Jersey. However, he was defeated by [[Democratic Party (United States)|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 come to winning a New Jersey United States Senate seat since [[Clifford Case]] won a fourth term re-election in [[United States Senate election, 1972|1972]].{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} Corzine defeated Franks by less than 100,000 votes and a vote percentage of 51.1% to 47.1% in the [[2000 United States Senate election in New Jersey|2000 US Senate election]].

===2001 gubernatorial campaign===
{{Main|2001 New Jersey gubernatorial election#Republican primary}}
He was defeated for the Republican nomination for New Jersey governor in 2001 by [[Bret Schundler]], who ran on a more conservative platform. 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.

[[Jack Abramoff]] helped Schundler raise funds against Franks because of his refusal to hold off a "Made in the USA" bill that harmed Abramoff's clients in the [[Northern Marianas Islands]] despite assurances he wouldn't introduce the bill until further discussions occurred. The bill was introduced the next day without further discussions. Abramoff retaliated "He was running for governor. I raised a bunch of money for his opponent in the primary and made sure everyone knew I was doing it. He lost his primary. No other Republican tried to slap the CNMI while I was a lobbyist." Abramoff said in an interview.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cracked.com/article_21786_6-ways-government-corruption-way-weirder-than-you-think_p2.html|title=6 Insane Details of Corrupt Politics That Movies Get Wrong|website=Cracked.com|date=7 October 2014}}</ref>

Franks remained involved in New Jersey politics and was often mentioned as a potential candidate for high offices, but Franks discouraged such speculation. Many thought that his next public office, if any, would have been 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 (New Jersey politician)|Mike Ferguson]], announced in 2007 that he would not seek reelection in 2008.  However, Franks then declined to run, 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://politickernj.com/franks-wont-seek-return-house-14176|title=Franks won't seek return to House|date=20 November 2007}}</ref>

==Death and legacy==
A resident of [[Warren Township, New Jersey|Warren Township]], Franks died of [[cancer]] at [[Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital]] in [[New York City]] on April 9, 2010.<ref>Staff. [http://newjerseyhills.com/echoes-sentinel/news/more-than-hear-four-governors-praise-bob-franks-mentor-and/article_2a5eed1c-67e4-54ab-a6ea-e73dfe95a67b.html "More than 1,000 hear four governors praise Bob Franks, mentor and friend, at cathedral"], ''Echoes-Sentinel'', April 23, 2010. Accessed October 21, 2015. "Former U.S. Rep. Bob Franks of Warren Township, who had died eight days earlier of cancer at the age of 58, was remembered on Saturday, April 17, at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Newark, in a 75-minute memorial attended by more than 1,000 people."</ref>

On September 24, 2013, at the dedication of a rail station in Union, New Jersey in honor of Franks, Gov. [[Chris Christie]] revealed that he had offered Franks the Republican nomination for [[Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey|Lt. Governor]] on his ticket in 2009, but that he was turned down. Christie then went to his second choice, [[Kim Guadagno]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/09/christie_helps_unveil_train_station_honoring_late_congressman_bob_franks.html|title=Christie says he asked late Congressman Bob Franks to be running mate in 2009|date=24 September 2013}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
<div style="overflow: auto; width: 98%;">
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ {{ushr|New Jersey|7|}}: Results 1992–1998<ref name="clerkresults">{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |title=Election Statistics |access-date=2008-01-10 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226190314/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |archive-date=2007-12-26 }}</ref>
!|Year
!
!|Democrat
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|3rd Party
!|Party
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|3rd Party
!|Party
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|3rd Party
!|Party
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 1992|1992]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|Leonard Sendelsky}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |105,761
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |42.6%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|'''Bob Franks'''}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |'''132,174'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''53.3%'''
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |{{nowrap|Eugene J.}} Gillespie
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |4,043
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |1.6%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Bill Campbell
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |{{nowrap|No Nonsense}} Government
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |2,612
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |1.1%
|
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Spencer Layman
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |1,964
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |0.8%
| |'''*'''
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 1994|1994]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Karen Carroll
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |64,231
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |38.7%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Bob Franks''' '''(incumbent)'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |'''98,814'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''59.6%'''
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |{{nowrap|James J.}} Cleary
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |LaRouche Was Right
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |2,331
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |1.4%
| |'''*'''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 1996|1996]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Larry Lerner
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |97,285
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |41.83%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Bob Franks''' '''(incumbent)'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |'''128,821'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''55.39%'''
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Dorothy DeLaura
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |4,076
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |1.75%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Nicholas Gentile
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |1,693
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |0.73%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Robert G. Robertson
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |696
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |0.30%
|
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 1998|1998]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|[[Maryanne Connelly]]}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |65,776
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |44%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Bob Franks''' '''(incumbent)'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |'''77,751'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''53%'''
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Richard C. Martin
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |3,007
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |2%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Darren Young
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |1,508
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |1%
|
|
|
|
|
|
{{s-end}}
</div>{{refbegin}}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.
{{refend}}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+2000 U.S. Senate Race – Republican Primary{{Citation needed|date=January 2008}}
!|Candidate
!|Pct
!
!|Candidate
!|Pct
!
!|Candidate
!|Pct
|-
|{{nowrap|'''Bob Franks'''}}
|'''36%'''
|
|[[William Gormley]]
|34%
|
|Others<!-- Anyone have the stats on this?-->
|30%
|
{{s-end}}

{{Election box begin | title=[[U.S. Senate election, 2000|2000 United States Senate election, Senate Class 1, New Jersey]]<ref name="clerkresults" />}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (US)
  |candidate  = [[Jon Corzine|Jon S. Corzine]]
  |votes      = 1,511,237
  |percentage = 50
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (US)
  |candidate  = Bob Franks
  |votes      = 1,420,267
  |percentage = 47
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Bruce Afran
  |votes      = 32,841
  |percentage = 1
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = [[Pat DiNizio]]
  |votes      = 19,312
  |percentage = 1
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Emerson Ellett
  |votes      = 7,241
  |percentage = <1%
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Dennis A. Breen
  |votes      = 6,061
  |percentage = <1%
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = J. M. Carter
  |votes      = 5,657
  |percentage = <1%
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Lorraine LaNeve
  |votes      = 3,836
  |percentage = <1%
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Gregory Pason
  |votes      = 3,365
  |percentage = <1%
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Nancy Rosenstock
  |votes      = 3,309
  |percentage = <1%
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = George Gostigian
  |votes      = 2,536
  |percentage = <1%
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box majority|
  |votes      = 90,970
  |percentage = 3
  |change     =
}}<!--
{{Election box turnout|
  |votes      = 2,250,070
  |percentage =
  |change     =
}}-->
{{Election box hold with party link|
  |winner     = Democratic Party (US)
  |loser      =
  |swing      =
}}
{{Election box end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{CongLinks | congbio=F000349 | votesmart= | fec=H2NJ07119 | congress= }}
* {{C-SPAN|3430}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-nj-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Donald DiFrancesco]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[New Jersey General Assembly]]<br>from the [[New Jersey's 22nd legislative district|22nd]] district|years=1980–1993|alongside=[[William J. Maguire]] and [[Maureen Ogden]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Alan Augustine]]}}
|-
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Matthew John Rinaldo|Matthew J. Rinaldo]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States Representatives from New Jersey|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[New Jersey's 7th congressional district]]|years=1993–2001}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Mike Ferguson (New Jersey politician)|Mike Ferguson]]}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Frank B. Holman]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chairman of the [[New Jersey Republican State Committee|New Jersey Republican Party]]|years=1987–1989}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Kathleen Donovan]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Kathleen Donovan]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chairman of the [[New Jersey Republican State Committee|New Jersey Republican Party]]|years=1990–1992}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Virginia Littell]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Chuck Haytaian]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[List of United States senators from New Jersey|U.S. Senator]] from [[New Jersey]]<br>([[Classes of United States Senators|Class 1]])|years=[[2000 United States Senate election in New Jersey|2000]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Thomas Kean Jr.]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Chairmen of the New Jersey Republican State Committee}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Franks, Bob}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:2010 deaths]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the New Jersey General Assembly]]
[[Category:DePauw University alumni]]
[[Category:Dedman School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:People from Glen Rock, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Politicians from Hackensack, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Politicians from Summit, New Jersey]]
[[Category:People from Warren Township, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Politicians from Chicago]]
[[Category:Politicians from Union County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Chairmen of the New Jersey Republican State Committee]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey]]
[[Category:Summit High School (New Jersey) alumni]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2000 United States elections]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2001 United States elections]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the New Jersey Legislature]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]