Earlier this month, the Advocacy Committee of the Downtown Partnership interviewed the announced candidates for El Paso County commissioner seats in Districts 2, 3 and 4.

The committee recommended supporting the three incumbents: Amy Lathen, recently appointed to fulfill an unexpired term in District 2, Sallie Clark in District 3 and Dennis Hisey in District 4. Clark and Hisey are seeking second terms.

“These candidates were deemed to meet all or a majority of the values of the Downtown Partnership,” the partnership’s Web site announced.

MISSING LETTERJeff Crank’s campaign for the 5th Congressional District GOP nomination recently sent out a press release titled, “Jeff Crank Pubic Statement on California Marriage Amendment Ruling.”

A sharp-eyed reader, State Rep. Douglas Bruce, noticed the missing “L” and said in an e-mail to Crank, “Hey, Jeff, Glad to see you have a sense of humor.”

Meanwhile, Crank will make the following appearances this week:

– 7 p.m. Wednesday, Front Range Environmental Resources Coalition, Pinecrest Event Center, 160 Greeley Road, Palmer Lake. Topic: Proposed exploratory gas drilling in northern El Paso County.- Noon Thursday, Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Meeting, Buena Vista Community Center.- 4 p.m. Thursday, Colorado Springs Business Expo, Phil Long Expo Center, 1515 Auto Mall Loop.

ENDORSEMENT CENTRALCrank’s campaign has released a list of former office holders who support him, including former state Sens. Lew Entz, Ed Jones and Mary Ellen Epps, former state Reps. Lynn Hefley and John Herzog, former 4th Judicial District District Attorney Bob Russel and former El Paso County Commissioner Chuck Brown.Crank also recently handed out $10 gas cards and ears of corn at a news conference where he blasted the federal government’s policies on food and fuel.”We gave out all 30 cards and ears of corn, as well as a ton of bumper stickers for Jeff,” his deputy campaign manager Amber Glus said.

RAYBURN GETS NODAnother Republican 5th District candidate, Bentley Rayburn, got a salute from retired Army Lt. Gen. Bill Thomas, the latest in a long list of military service members to endorse him.Rayburn is making an education tour in Chaffee County Wednesday and is conducting “petition signature walking” events on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For information, call 719-884-7457.

LAMBORN TOPS LISTThe man whose job Crank and Rayburn are after, Rep. Doug Lamborn, was ranked first by the conservative group, Club for Growth, for his pro-growth voting record.Lamborn received a perfect score of 100, making him one of four Senate and House members to receive the top rating for pro-economic growth policy goals. Those include the death tax repeal, Social Security reform, expanding free trade, school choice, replacing the current tax code and legal reform to end abusive lawsuits.

Submit items to pam.zubeck@gazettedev.gazette.com

Ward Mendenhall cleans up some of the movie poster cases at the new Hollywood Theatres on Tuesday, May 20, 2008. On the opening day, the Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the New Crystal Skull will be featured on 14 screens starting every 15 minutes. Photo by The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett

Jerilee Bennett