Ed Jones, defeated for a second state Senate term in 2006, will seek a seat on the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners.Jones’ filing widens to five the field of Republicans seeking the seat now held by Jim Bensberg, who’s barred from re-election by term limits.

The other candidates are Peggy Littleton, state board of education member; local businessman Patrick Carter; UCCS student David Williams; and retiree William Guevara.

Jones, 67, a commissioner from 1995 to 2003 who served in the Senate for one term before Democrat John Morse crushed his re-election bid, has some baggage he’s carrying into the campaign.

When running for commission in 1994, Jones admitted he didn’t have the college degree he claimed on campaign fliers and also faced $36,000 in IRS tax liens.

During his 2002 Senate race, Jones proclaimed he was unaware cocaine deals took place in a East Platte Avenue bar he frequented, Leonard’s Bar II.

Jones was never charged and said he went there for the atmosphere. But a narcotics detective who led the sting said Jones was at the bar four times when undercover drug buys were made.

When he sought re-election in 2006, Jones, who is black, had to defend his 2004 effort to eliminate affirmative action programs, which baffled and angered the minority community.

But Jones dismisses those issues, saying, “I’m pretty sure people will use that, but I’ve been through it all, and it makes me stronger. What else can they do but put me on the cross?”

He’s running for the $87.300-a-year post because the county needs experience, he said.

“I’m running basically because I feel I can still do the job. The county was in good shape when I left,” he said.

Guevara, 79, wants to bring “some real professionalism” to the commission, he said.

A retired avocado grower in Santa Barbara, Calif., and former mayor of Carlsbad, Calif., Guevara said he knows government and is ready to serve.

“I did that work for many years,” he said. “I’m going to be the people’s choice. I will be available at all times. I’m retired, so I have all the time to spend.”-Call the writer at 636-0238

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