Gary Franks
Encyclopedia
Gary A. Franks was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut for six years, from 1991 until 1997. He was the first and to date only African-American elected to Congress from Connecticut.
. He received his B.A.
from Yale University
in 1975. He served as a member of the Waterbury, Connecticut board of aldermen from 1986 to 1990. Franks was an unsuccessful candidate for comptroller of Connecticut in 1986. He was elected as a Republican
to the One Hundred Second and to the two succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1997). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the 105th Congress in 1996 and an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate in 1998.
won his last term on the South Side of Chicago in 1932. The other African-American Republican
member of the U.S. House in the 1990s was J. C. Watts from Oklahoma
. In his 1990 election Franks defeated former 6th District congressman Toby Moffett
whom Franks portrayed as too liberal
to represent the conservative 5th District. Franks won in a three-way election in 1992 when the Democrats split between endorsed candidate Judge James Lawlor, a moderate
from Waterbury, and A Connecticut Party
candidate Lynn Taborsak, a labor-liberal candidate from Danbury
. James H. Maloney
, then the Democratic state senator from Danbury, challenged Franks in 1994 and received 46% of the vote.
Maloney ran again in 1996 and defeated Franks, benefitting from the coattails of President
Bill Clinton
's strong showing in Connecticut.
Franks became the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate
in 1998, challenging incumbent Senator Chris Dodd in 1998. Dodd was re-elected, with Franks receiving 32 percent of the vote.
Early life
Franks was born in Waterbury, ConnecticutWaterbury, Connecticut
Waterbury is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, on the Naugatuck River, 33 miles southwest of Hartford and 77 miles northeast of New York City...
. He received his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1975. He served as a member of the Waterbury, Connecticut board of aldermen from 1986 to 1990. Franks was an unsuccessful candidate for comptroller of Connecticut in 1986. He was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the One Hundred Second and to the two succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1997). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the 105th Congress in 1996 and an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate in 1998.
Career
Franks was the first black Republican to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives since Oscar Stanton De PriestOscar Stanton De Priest
Oscar Stanton De Priest was an American lawmaker and civil rights advocate who served as a U.S. Representative from Illinois from 1929 to 1935. He was the first African American to be elected to Congress in the 20th century....
won his last term on the South Side of Chicago in 1932. The other African-American Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the U.S. House in the 1990s was J. C. Watts from Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. In his 1990 election Franks defeated former 6th District congressman Toby Moffett
Toby Moffett
Anthony John "Toby" Moffett, Jr. was an American politician from the state of Connecticut. A Democrat, Moffett served in the United States House of Representatives as the member from Connecticut's 6th congressional district from 1975 to 1983.-Early life and education:Moffett was born in Holyoke,...
whom Franks portrayed as too liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
to represent the conservative 5th District. Franks won in a three-way election in 1992 when the Democrats split between endorsed candidate Judge James Lawlor, a moderate
Moderate
In politics and religion, a moderate is an individual who is not extreme, partisan or radical. In recent years, political moderates has gained traction as a buzzword....
from Waterbury, and A Connecticut Party
A Connecticut Party
A Connecticut Party was a political party formed by former Republican Senator and gubernatorial candidate Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. in 1990. Weicker subsequently won the election and served a single term as Governor of Connecticut...
candidate Lynn Taborsak, a labor-liberal candidate from Danbury
Danbury
Danbury is a city in Connecticut, U.S.Danbury may also refer to:*Danbury, Saskatchewan, Canada*Danbury, Essex, UK*Danbury, Iowa, U.S.*Danbury, Nebraska, U.S.*Danbury, New Hampshire, U.S.*Danbury, North Carolina, U.S.*Danbury, Texas, U.S....
. James H. Maloney
James H. Maloney
James H. "Jim" Maloney is a former Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut.Maloney was born in Quincy, Massachusetts. He was a Volunteers in Service to America volunteer from 1969 until 1970. He graduated from Harvard University in 1972 and received a law degree...
, then the Democratic state senator from Danbury, challenged Franks in 1994 and received 46% of the vote.
Maloney ran again in 1996 and defeated Franks, benefitting from the coattails of President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
's strong showing in Connecticut.
Franks became the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1998, challenging incumbent Senator Chris Dodd in 1998. Dodd was re-elected, with Franks receiving 32 percent of the vote.