by Jim Kouri - There's an interesting Republican primary race heating up for Colorado's 5th District congressional seat. Two conservatives are vying for the opportunity to serve their district on Capitol Hill. Jeff Crank and Doug Lamborn are both conservatives and, at first glance, both impressive.
Crank most recently was the Senior Vice President for Governmental Affairs for the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce. He joined the Chamber as Vice President in May 1998 and was promoted to Senior Vice President in October 2001. He has been a frequent guest-host on the Joseph Michelli show on News Radio 740 KVOR. In 2004, that experience led him to host a weekly public affairs radio show, the Chamber Connection with Jeff Crank on Newstalk 1460 KZNT which he continued to host until his candidacy for Congress.
The 39-year old Crank served as a staff member to US Congressman Joel Hefley (R-CO) on Capitol Hill from 1991 until 1998. Jeff served as Administrative Director to the Congressman where he was responsible for all administrative operations of the Congressman's Washington office. Additionally, he was the staff person responsible for the Congressman's work on the House Armed Services Committee dealing with funding for the U.S. Department of Defense, including military procurement, research and development, readiness, and personnel issues. During this time, Congressman Hefley was the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Military Installations and Facilities which had oversight for US military construction projects world-wide, and for base realignment and closure issues.
He's secured an impressive array of endorsements including Republican officeholders, military generals, civic leaders and religious leaders in Colorado.
Unfortunately, according to nationally syndicated talk show host and columnist Hugh Hewitt, his opponent has decided to take the low road in the race.
Despite leaders such as Pastor Ted Haggard, Senator Lew Entz and Representative Keith King and many others denouncing “Christian Coalition” and Lamborn for their attack piece last week, the “Christian Coalition” did it again. The attack piece alleged that Crank supports the homosexual agenda.
And this week, the Christian Coalition, which endorsed Lamborn, sent out another mailing that repeats the same attacks on Crank's proven social conservative record.
Some political experts told Crank not to respond to the Christian Coalition's below the belt attacks but Jeff says, "I will not let them get away with lying about my record and will always defend my integrity and character."
Despite many calls to do so, Lamborn has refused to denounce the attack pieces.
"That shouldn’t surprise many of us who know that Lamborn’s campaign manager and his brother are behind the attacks," Crank said.
Lamborn denies involvement in the Christian Coalition attack, however, a story in the Colorado Springs Gazette indicates otherwise:
"A mailing accusing Republican congressional hopefuls Jeff Crank and Lionel Rivera of supporting the 'radical homosexual lobby' may have backfired on its sender.
"At least two volunteers have since left the campaign of state Sen. Doug Lamborn, whom opponents are trying to tie to the mailing. And Senator Andy McElhany has sent a scathing e-mail message declaring, 'Those of us who know Doug Lamborn best are not supporting him.'
"The mailing was sent by the Christian Coalition of Colorado as a lobbying piece in the six-way GOP primary to succeed Rep. Joel Hefley. But the Crank and Rivera campaigns noted that Christian Coalition executive director Mark Hotaling is the brother of Lamborn’s campaign manager, Jon Hotaling."