Elk Grove Village trustee runs for first time

Elk Grove Village Trustee Jeff Franke wants to be your trustee again even though he's never run for office before.

It will be the first election for Franke, who'll have to prove he can win a seat in his own right.

Last year, he was appointed, but now he's got to get elected if he wants a 4-year term.

Franke said he'd like to stay on the board to continue the work of running the village.

A few of his decisions have been unpopular with some residents, he said. He voted against a ban on wood fire pits in backyards. He did not support a law preventing car idling.

"I have my own opinions and I've voiced them," Franke said.

He'd like to continue to preside over the $30 million expansion of village hall, making sure it comes in under budget, he said. Keeping taxes low and continuing to balance the budget is another set of goals he'd like to help achieve.

Franke has been involved with local government for more than 10 years.

He had served on the village's Zoning Board of Appeals since 1998 before becoming trustee.

He was appointed last year by Mayor Craig Johnson to fill the vacant spot left by Bart K. Dill, who stepped down for health reasons.

Franke has lived in Elk Grove Village for almost 50 years, attending Grove Junior High and Elk Grove High School. Franke has been involved in youth sports programs, including football, basketball, baseball, softball and soccer.

He is a technical sales representative for New York-based Flexovit, an industrial supply company.

He's finishing out the four-year term of Dill, who was re-elected in 2005. Dill was first elected to the village board in 1997.

Franke will have some competition for the three, 4-year seats that are up for grabs. Trustees Pat Feichter and Chris Prochno said they will run as will Mitch Gora, who ran unsuccessfully twice before.