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Honorable Gary Franks Former Member of Congress
Not only was Gary Franks was the first African-American Republican to be elected to U.S. House of Representatives in nearly six decades and the first-ever black conservative elected, but he was also the first black Congressman ever elected from an overwhelmingly white (92%) district. Elected in 1990, Gary Franks served three terms of office from 1991 through 1997. Breaking even more barriers, Gary Franks is also the only African American ever elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut.
During his terms in Congress, Gary Franks authored the Urban Entrepreneurial Opportunities Bill, also known as the SBA’s New Markets Program. President Clinton enacted most of the bill’s components in 2000. The bill brought the New Markets Venture Capital Program into existence, designed to create business and job opportunities in low-income areas across America. While serving as Chairman of the Republican Party Task Force on Welfare Reform, Gary Franks played a key role in the creation of the 1995 GOP Welfare Reform Package. Gary Franks acted as the Chairman of the Republican Party Task Force on Civil Rights, and helped create the Civil Rights Act of 1991. Mr. Franks fought hard to end racial gerrymandering of congressional districts, inspired by the situation in Georgia. Gary Franks testified before a three-judge panel of the nation’s second-highest court about his racial gerrymandering bill, which was then sitting before Congress. Thanks to Mr. Franks’ efforts, today Georgia has more black congressmen than any other state in America.
During his incumbency, Gary Franks was the only Republican in the Congressional Black Caucus. Gary Franks devoted much of his time in office to serving his Connecticut constituency and his hometown of Waterbury. Although he was the only member of the Armed Services Committee from Connecticut, numerous defense contracts were awarded to facilities in his state. While working as the Chairman of the Panel for Defense Conversion, Gary Franks secured $20 million in funding used to transform a brown field site in Waterbury into a major consumer mall.
Before his election to Congress, Gary Franks served as an Alderman in the town of Waterbury. He became President pro tempore of the Board in 1990. He has held positions at three Fortune 500 companies and worked extensively in real estate.
Gary Franks's Schools
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Yale University
, Class of 1975
In addition to vigorous study, Gary Franks served as Captain Freshmen & Varsity Basketball Teams Yale Univ. Scholar Athlete Award ECAC Basketball Player of the Week Freshman Basketball Scoring Title 25 Points per game average Vertical Jump Record.
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Gary Franks's Companies
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Gary Alvin Associates, LLC
1999
- Washington, District of Columbia
Partner
Drawing on the expertise as a former Republican member of Congress we are able to provide effective representation of clients views with Congress, regulatory agencies, the White House and various Executive Agencies. Over the years we have worked closely with many members of Congress, a number of who reached positions of seniority and leadership. We have also worked with the Executive Branch. These contacts and our understanding and experience in the process of which public policy decisions are made in Washington enables us to present the views of our clients to key people at the right time.
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US House of Representatives
1991 - 1997
- Washington, District of Columbia
Congressional Representative
Provide Congressional Representation for his designated districts.
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Gary Franks's Affiliations
Gary Franks's Publications
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Gary Franks’ Searching for the Promised Land: An African American's Optimistic Odyssey, Gary Franks
April, 2011
In 1996, Representative Gary Franks published the memoir Searching for the Promised Land: An African American’s Optimistic Odyssey. The first black conservative ever elected to the U.S. Congress, Franks championed economic development, self-sufficiency, and personal initiative, all themes that feature prominently in the book.
Franks’ memoir focuses on how his life experiences led him to develop unique opinions on public policy. Growing up in a poor family, Gary Franks and all of his five siblings managed to attend college, three of them achieving doctoral degrees. Franks discusses his belief in self-reliance and conservative economic policies, stances that have led to confrontations with well-known liberals, including Jesse Jackson. He also describes how his commitment to his principles caused the Congressional Black Caucus, a traditionally liberal organization, to excommunicate him.
From this background of personal experiences, the memoir mentions many of Franks’ most notable policy contributions. The book outlines his belief in tax relief for charities that help families to become self-sufficient. It also describes Franks’ proposal for converting the welfare system into a loan program and preventing abuses to the system through a network of specialized debit cards. Franks’ memoir also demonstrates commitment to long-standing Republican values such as cutting taxes and reducing the size of government.
Searching for the Promised Land: An African American’s Optimistic Odyssey is published by HarperCollins Publishers and is available from online book sellers.
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Promoting Economic and Social Development in Waterbury, Connecticut
, Gary Franks' Blog on Bigsight
November, 2011
Situated among Green Hills, Waterbury is a Traditional Connecticut Industrial Center.
Author: Daniel Case. Posted at Wikimedia Commons.
Gary Franks’ career as a Connecticut businessperson and politician spans three terms in Congress and more than a decade of experience in the corporate world. Prior to a national career in politics, he completed three terms with the Waterbury Board of Aldermen, serving as President Pro Tempore for one term.
Connecticut’s fifth largest city, Waterbury has a population of 110,000. Its nickname, the “Brass City,” reflects a reputation gained in the 1800s as a producer of quality brass. Waterbury brass and copper were notably used in constructing Colorado’s Hoover Dam, producing Ingersoll pocket watches, and minting nickels. Manufacturing remains one of Waterbury’s economic mainstays, with industrial output including plastic and paper products, electronic and automotive components, stamped metal and screw machine products, and copper and brass products. The city’s economy has been successfully diversified in recent decades, and it now includes chemical research and financial services providers as well. Companies headquartered in Waterbury include Hubbard-Hall, Webster Bank, and Voltarc Technologies, Inc.
Waterbury’s government form is municipal, with a mayor and 15 aldermen representing the city’s diverse neighborhoods elected biennially. As an Alderman from 1986 to 1990, Gary Franks fulfilled a number of public functions, including Vice Chairman of the Zoning Commission, Chairman of the Land Committee, and Fire Commissioner. In the latter capacity, he helped give more Hispanic and African-American individuals hiring and promotion opportunities than ever before in the city’s history.
As Vice Chairman of the Zoning Commission, Gary Franks authored Zone Change Notification legislation that reduced the construction of condominiums throughout the city. The legislation also notably provided community members with a stronger voice on all proposed zone changes. Mr. Franks additionally leveraged his position as Alderman in requiring the city to provide a new magnet school for minority students.
Gary Franks continued working on behalf of his community in Congress, gaining approval for a $20 million Waterbury defense manufacturing site cleanup and demolition as Chairman of the Panel for Defense Conversion. The site now provides Waterbury with a strong retail presence as one of New England’s leading commercial malls. Today Gary Franks practices in Washington, D.C., as Partner with the public affairs-focused Gary Alvin Associates, LLC, but his roots still reside in his hometown of Waterbury.
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