Gary Alvin Franks (born February 9, 1953) is an American politician who was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut for six years, from 1991 until 1997.

[1][3] After Yale, Franks worked in labor relations for 10 years at Continental Can Co., Chesebrough-Pond's Inc. and Cadbury Schweppes PLC.

James H. Maloney, then the state senator for Danbury and a Democrat, challenged Franks in 1994, receiving 46% of the vote in that midterm election.

During his tenure, more defense contracts were awarded in Connecticut than ever before, including production of the ‘Seawolf Submarine’ (a project that continued for more than a decade) and orders of the M16 rifle for Colt Manufacturing.

In 1999, Franks founded and became a partner in the public affairs firm, Gary Alvin Associates, LLC based in Washington, DC.

[6][7] He also served as president and chairman of Pacific Rim Trading & Investment Corp., a Fort Lauderdale group that recycles American scrap metal from America to China.

Although Franks was registered to vote in Waterbury, the article stated that he had not done so in 10 years, during which time he and his wife lived in Maryland and Florida under alternate versions of their legal names.

[10] In 2015, Franks was featured in the Wall Street Journal piece "Making the Republican Case for Black Support."

You’ve got to show contrasts between what Democrats have done and what Republicans have done on issues like school choice and faith-based interventions.” [11] Franks ran as a candidate in favor of welfare reform and an opponent of affirmative action.

He opposed increased taxation and supported a reduced capital gains tax and an amendment to ban desecration of the American flag.

One of his claims was that it would enforce quotas that would encourage companies to move out of Connecticut to states with a greater proportion of whites.

In a 2022 Boston Herald column, Franks expressed concern particularly for black women, whom he considered to have a disproportionate number of abortions: "I supported the so-called pro-choice position while in Congress.