I fully agree with Congressman Hefley that Jeff Crank clearly has the best set of professional experiences with which to represent Colorado's 5th Congressional District.

see "Hefley endorses former staffer" (Rocky Mountain News, 3/20/06)
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/elections/article/0,2808,DRMN_24736_4556791,00.html

Hefley endorses former staffer
By Dick Foster, Rocky Mountain News
March 20, 2006

COLORADO SPRINGS — Retiring 5th District Congressman Joel Hefley today endorsed his former administrative director, Jeff Crank, as his choice to replace him in Congress.

Crank, who is senior vice president of government affairs for the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, served on Hefley's Washington, D.C., staff from 1991 to 1998. The 5th District includes Colorado Springs and El Paso County, where the state's major military installations are located, along with Park, Lake, Chaffee, Fremont and Teller counties.

Crank held the position of administrative director, responsible for the office's staff and operations. He also was Hefley's chief staffer for the House Armed Services Committee, dealing with military funding.

Hefley's position on the committee has been considered a key to the preservation and growth of military installations in Colorado, including Fort Carson, NORAD, Peterson Air Force Base and Buckley Air Force Base.

In endorsing Crank, Hefley said he is the only one of four Republican candidates for the House seat who already has experience in the congressional politics of Washington.