Crank, Lamborn, Rayburn go at it again

The three Republicans running for the 5th Congressional District seat have a lot in common: They’re conservative, evangelical Christians who back the war in Iraq.

They also know each other pretty well from two years ago and don’t seem to enjoy each other’s company very much.

The rematch this year between Doug Lamborn, Jeff Crank and Bentley Rayburn is nothing if not a grudge match.

Two years ago, Lamborn won the open seat in Congress that had been held for 20 years by Joel Hefley after a bitter primary fight marked by vicious exchanges with Crank.

Has anything changed?

Rayburn says Lamborn now has a record to defend. Lambo- rn said he’s proud to defend it, calling himself the most conservative person in Congress.

Crank says the difference is four less contenders to split the vote, giving him an edge.

Lamborn says he’s proved himself an effective lawmaker.

It might be premature to assume there will be a three-way race when Republicans choose the nominee in the Aug. 12 primary election.

Rayburn plans to get on the ballot by circulating petitions.

Crank will use the traditional route of party caucuses and the May 31 assembly, signing a pledge to that effect.

Lamborn hasn’t said how he’ll go, but is adamant the decision is his to make.

“I’m not going to sign a pledge,” he said. “I don’t think it’s the role of the party to tell incumbents and candidates what to do. They should be supporting their incumbents and candidates, not dictating to them.”

Conventional wisdom gives the incumbent the edge, but some political observers say Lamborn will have a tougher time after a 2006 campaign in which Hefley accused him of “sleazy” campaign tactics.

Lamborn called Crank a liberal tax hiker and questioned his pro-family record. Crank accused Lamborn’s backers of being anti-military and filed a police report accusing Lamborn’s son of stealing campaign signs.

Rayburn, meanwhile, says Lamborn’s term in Congress has been a fiasco. Lamborn’s stumbles included his proposing to make a national monument, Rayburn said, an idea that surprised the community and went nowhere.

Lamborn calls that “nitpicking” and “exaggeration.”

“I never proposed that it become a monument,” he said. “I said let’s take a look at the idea.”

Crank also criticizes the incumbent’s record. “I think the community generally wants to see better representation,” he said, scolding Lamborn for overuse of taxpayer-funded mailing privileges. Lamborn spent more than $40,000 in his first three months in office on mass mailings and constituent letters, more than Hefley spent in five years.

Last week, Lamborn sent out another color brochure resembling a campaign mailer.

Crank said he would only use the mail privileges to send out public-meeting notices and said he’d propose legislation curtailing its use.

“The intention should not be to send out piece after piece with your picture on it trying to get re-elected,” he said.

While their political philosophies may be similar, each candidate has his own agenda.

Crank, a business consultant, has spent more time in congressional offices than the other two candidates, having worked for Hefley during most of the 1990s.

He wants to fundamentally change the federal government. He would try to ax funding for Amtrak, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Department of Education and much of the Commerce Department and sharply reduce foreign aid. “These are not things the government needs to fund,” he said.

“Kevlar vests for soldiers are have to haves,” he said. “Public funding of art is nice to have. There are lots of things that bring value but that doesn’t mean government should pay for them.”

The Pueblo native and former Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce executive says he wants to reduce growth rates in Medicare and Medicaid funding and revamp Social Security.

Crank wants an oversight committee to set salaries for members of Congress, rather than allowing automatic cost of living raises.

“That’s what this race is about — restoring people’s faith that their representatives are going to go there and make a difference, not just vote,” he said.

Rayburn, a career Air Force officer, said Congress needs more military members.

An Air Force Academy grad, Rayburn flew F-4 and F-16 fighters, ran the Air War College, served as a planner at Air Combat Command overseeing a $17.2 billion budget, and was a commander in Saudi Arabia in charge of a 75-mile security perimeter before retiring as a major general.

“In this district, a huge issue is just the ability to lead,” he said.

“As a senior officer, you have 18 to 24 months to do the job,” he added. “You figure out the smart way forward. We don’t have two years to learn the job.”

Having spent many summers in Colorado Springs as a youth, the Newton, Kan., native married a local girl.

“Since 1963, I’ve lived here longer than I’ve lived anywhere else,” he said.

Rayburn sees a congressman’s job as a helper to his constituents.

“It’s really all about trying to improve people’s lives,” he said. “We send a lot of tax money to D.C. but we don’t get all of it back. What I want to do in a positive way is lay out a plan for our district and how to make the 5th District a better place to live.”

Rayburn doesn’t own a home in the district, but said he’s been active in the community, serving on a veterans cemetery committee, with Home Front Cares and in a leadership program.

Lamborn, who grew up in Lawrence, Kan., isn’t bothered two Republicans are challenging him. “I’m very confident as to the outcome,” he said.

His first year in office has been fruitful, he said, including a role in getting a new brigade combat team assigned to Fort Carson, securing funding for an immigration office, winning a grant for Colorado Springs School District 11 and advancing consideration of a veterans cemetery in El Paso County.

He also noted he’s landed a House Armed Services Committee seat ahead of other more senior Republicans.

“I worked hard to show the leadership that I was passionate to help the military,” he said.

He emphasized how conservative he is by pointing to a “Congressional Quarterly” survey that gave him “a 99.3 opposition rate to the Democrats.”

Yet, Lamborn said he works effectively with Democrats, such as the joint effort on the cemetery with Colorado Democratic Rep. John Salazar.

“Getting on the Armed Services Committee, a strong record as a Republican and a strong record of accomplishment, I think, is an unbeatable combination,” he said.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0238 or pam.zubeck@gazette.com