Elsie Franklin
Gary's Elsie Franklin passes
Contributed By:The 411 News
Represented city and county governments, Democratic Party
The first African American woman to serve on the Lake County Council.
First black woman to chair Gary’s Democratic Precinct Organization.
Elsie Franklin is being remembered for her work in city and county governments and in the Democratic Party. Franklin’s family announced she had passed Monday morning, May 6, at the age of 81.
Illnesses have kept Franklin from her regular duties as county councilwoman. She won re-election to the 2nd District County Council seat in 2018.
Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson said, “Her passing will leave a void in the political fabric of our community that will be hard to fill. I will always cherish our friendship and our last conversations as she still worked to encourage this community with everything she had.”
Franklin served as Gary’s General Services Director under Mayor Barnes.
She served as Vice Chair of the Lake County Democratic Party.
Gary City Councilman-At-Large Mike Brown said Franklin took him under her wings. He was Franklin’s vice chair when she chaired the Gary Democratic Precinct Organization. Brown said he wouldn’t be where he is today without Franklin’s help and guidance.
Frank Bilski, county council president told The Times Franklin had a passion for issues facing her constituents. "She was always all about the kids," Bilski said. "She wanted to make sure those going through the juvenile justice system didn't end up across the street (in the Lake County Jail)."
The Lake County Democratic Central Committee will set a date in the next 30 days to begin the nomination process to determine a replacement for Franklin. All precinct committee people in the 2nd District, which includes Gary, Calumet Township and Griffith, will be eligible to vote.
Story Posted:05/07/2019
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