Kenneth Franks

Kenneth Franks
Candidate for Texas State House, District 9
Political party	Democrat
Website	Campaign website

Kenneth Franks was a Democratic candidate for the District 9 in the Texas House of Representatives in the November 2, 2010, state legislative elections.

Education[edit]

• MA, Education, Stephen F Austin State University
• B.S., Physical Education- History, University of Texas at Austin^[1]

Professional experience[edit]

• Teacher, Broaddus I.S.D., 1999-2009
• Teacher, Deer Park I.S.D., 1998-1999
• Teacher, Timpson I.S.D., 1993-1998
• Teacher, Nacogdoches I.S.D., 1992-1993
• Teacher, Deer Park I.S.D., 1988-1992
• Coach/Teacher, Center I.S.D., 1985-1997
• Coach/Teacher, Joaquin I.S.D., 1984-1985
• Coach/Teacher, Newton I.S.D., 1982-1984
• Pipefitter, Brown & Root, 1981
• Teacher/Special Education, Laneville I.S.D., 1980
• Student/Graduate Assistant, Stephen F. Austin State University, 1976-1978
• Teacher, West Sabine I.S.D., 1974-1976
• Coach/Teacher, Tenaha I.S.D., 1973-1974^[2]

Issue Positions[edit]

Franks' campaign site listed his positions across a number of issues:

• The Trans-Texas Corridor

Excerpt: "This project must be stopped and it won't be if we continue to have a Republican majority in the Texas House...As of June 11 TxDot has stated that it will "consider" the use of existing footprints where possible. We still must stay on top of this issue. We are still looking at 1,200 right of way and a toll road coming through our area. Keep informed and check in at www.texasturf.org for updates."

• Border Security/Immigration

Excerpt: "Texas is on the front line of the illegal immigration issue. Washington has failed us and now more than ever people are looking to state governments to address the problem. I will work with federal, state and local governments to secure our borders and enforce immigration policies that respect those who follow the legal processes of joining our national citizenry rather than reward those who do not."

• Education

Excerpt: "High stakes testing has dominated education for years and is frustrating, unproductive, time wasting, and a failure. We need to use testing to make improvements in education not as a punitive force that destroys public education. "

• Legislative Goals for Education

Excerpt: "1.Pay teachers as professionals. 2. Increase benefits and wages for support staff...3.Fully fund mandates...4.Revive and develop vocational programs...5.Replace high stakes testing with tools that build a successful public school environment. 6.Freeze college tuition... 7. Help potential future teachers with the excessive expenses of college educations. 8.Put in place programs that assist college bound students and vocational students... "

• Children's Healthcare

Excerpt:"We need to increase participation in health care programs for children. Children don't have the choice to be born into wealthy families. We need to provide "front door" access and children's insurance programs to keep our future insured."

• Water & Energy

Excerpt:"In East Texas we are blessed to have water and energy. We need to use and protect our water from outside interests, and not pollute it as we extract oil and gas from underground. Water and energy are coming together, what some are beginning to call a "water-energy nexus."This is because it takes water to produce energy and energy to move water. As our population increases, even with conservation, there will be increasing demands for water and energy."

• Immigration

Excerpt:"Everyone that has spent a lifetime here has seen the tremendous surge of immigrants to our area. Do immigrants depress wages of working East Texans? Yes. Are immigrants overloading our health care institutions? Yes. Do we have overcrowded jails partly due to immigration? Yes. Has immigration had an affect on our public education system? Yes. Do we need to begin to work on this problem? Yes."^[3]

Political Courage Test[edit]

Franks provided answers to the 2010 Political Courage Test on the subjects of:

• Abortion and reproductive issues
• Budget, spending and tax issues
• Campaign finance and government reform issues
• Crime and public safety issues
• Economic issues
• Education issues
• Environment and energy issues
• Gun issues
• Health issues
• Social issues
• Legislative priorities

The full test can be accessed here.

Elections[edit]

2010[edit]

See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2010

Franks ran for election to the 9th District seat in 2010. He had no opposition in the March 2nd primary. He was defeated by Republican incumbent Wayne Christian in the general election on November 2, 2010.^[4]

Texas House of Representatives, District 9 2010 General election results
Candidates		Votes	Percent
Wayne Christian (R)		23,754	72.15%
Kenneth Franks (D)		9,169	27.84%

2008[edit]

On November 4, 2008, Christian was defeated in the race for the Texas House of Representatives 9th District seat by Wayne Christian. Christian received 32,704 votes in the election while Franks received 18,448 votes, and Joe Allport (L) received 961 votes. Christian raised $193,267 for his campaign; Franks raised $4,355.^[5]

Texas House of Representatives, District 9
Candidates		Votes	Percent
Wayne Christian (R)		32,704	62.75%
Kenneth Franks (D)		18,448	35.39%
Joe Allport (L)		961	1.84%

Campaign donors[edit]

2010[edit]

In the last fundraising period, Franks has raised $750.^[6]

2008[edit]

Franks raised $4,355 in the 2008 election cycle.

His major contributors are listed below.^[7]

Personal[edit]

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.

• Divorced
• Two children, Mallory Grace Franks (deceased) and Jordan Lyn Franks
• Methodist^[1]

Contact[edit]

Email Kenneth D Franks: kfranks@kennethdfranks.com

Home Phone: (409) 584-1240

Cell Phone: (936) 275-6432

Mailing Address: PO Box 206 Pineland, TX 75968

External links[edit]

• Biography from Project Vote Smart
• Campaign Site
• Candidate Facebook Profile
• Texas Democrats YouTube Channel
• Official Campaign Contributions
• Contributions, Follow the Money
• Texas Tribune Profile
• Imagine Election Profile

Footnotes[edit]