Chris Franks
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- This page is on the Welsh engineer and politician. For the soccer player see Chris Franks (soccer).
Christopher Paul Franks (born 2 August 1951) is a Welsh engineer and politician. A member of Plaid Cymru, he has led the party's group on the Vale of Glamorgan council, and since 2007 he has been a member of the National Assembly for Wales.
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[edit] Career
Franks was born in Cardiff, and educated at Llandaff College. He qualified as a civil engineer, and worked in the Highways and Transport Department of a local authority.
[edit] Political life
He was elected to Vale of Glamorgan council from Dinas Powys ward, and also to Dinas Powys Community Council. Franks was the Plaid Cymru candidate for Vale of Glamorgan in the 2001 general election, and shortly after the election was chosen as Plaid Cymru group leader on Vale of Glamorgan. He also fought the Vale of Glamorgan in the 1999 and 2003 elections to the National Assembly for Wales. In 2002, Franks challenged Owen John Thomas for the top place on the Plaid Cymru list in South Wales Central, but was unsuccessful.[1]
[edit] Vale of Glamorgan council leadership
After the 2004 elections to Vale of Glamorgan Council, the Plaid Cymru group found itself with the 'balance of power' and Franks held meetings with both the Conservative and Labour leaders.[2] Eventually the Conservatives formed a minority administration. This administration lasted until November 2006 when a crisis over social services cuts led to a vote of no confidence in the Conservative Leader being passed. Franks declared that an all-party coalition was preferable.[3] A coalition between Labour, Plaid Cymru and Independent councillors was agreed that December under which Franks became Cabinet member for Legal and Public Protection. He is no longer the Cabinet member for Legal and Public Protection, this by succeeded by Ms Val Hartrey.
[edit] National Assembly candidate
Franks was selected in May 2006 as second on Plaid Cymru's list for South Wales Central following the retirement of Owen John Thomas; Plaid had won two seats from the regional list in both previous elections to the Assembly.[4] He duly retained the seat in the 2007 election.
[edit] References
- Biography on the Plaid Cymru website
- ^ Clive Betts, "Two prepare to challenge Plaid spokesman", Western Mail, 15 July 2002.
- ^ "Key held by Plaid", South Wales Echo, 16 June 2004.
- ^ Peter Collins, "Crisis-hit council's emergency talks", South Wales Echo, 24 November 2006.
- ^ Phillip Nifield, "Franks set for assembly", South Wales Echo, 15 May 2006.
[edit] Offices held
| National Assembly for Wales | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Owen John Thomas |
Assembly Member for South Wales Central 2007 – present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by Elin Jones |
Assembly Commission 2007 (from Sept 18) – present |
Incumbent |
