Most members of Congress have to tout a laundry list of good deeds for their districts as they seek reelection after their first term in office. 

Jeff Crank’s winning efforts speak for themselves.

After only two years in Washington, the southern Colorado native and longtime Republican champion of the Springs’ local military presence already has proven he knows his way around the nation’s capital. Enough so to help build our national defense and the Pikes Peak region’s economy at the same time.

Just last week, Crank and Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink announced several key projects that will enhance the Springs area’s extensive military infrastructure. Included in the windfall: a $250 million Space Force Operations Facility at Schriever Space Force Base.

And Crank has played an instrumental role in securing it.

It’s all the more reason why The Gazette’s editorial board endorses Crank for reelection. He’s such a slam dunk to represent the 5th Congressional District in Congress, we strongly recommend a vote for him on the Republican primary ballot — which will arrive in the mail next week — as well in November’s general election. 

Crank says the new facility at Schriever will support projects such as the Golden Dome, space-based reconnaissance and all-domain command and control. The congressman also notes a key position with decision-making power over Space Force funding soon will move to El Paso County. The portfolio acquisition executive will have broad financial authority.

The Space Force Operations Facility is expected to create about 2,500 civilian jobs.

It’s a real boon to national security as well as the local economy — a synergy for which Crank has a keen sense. That’s because he not only syncs with the Pikes Peak region’s pro-military sensibilities, but he also has a deft understanding of how Congress and the executive branch can cooperate for the common good.

As The Gazette noted in its report covering Crank’s and Meink’s announcement, the incoming projects offset the community’s loss of U.S. Space Command headquarters to Huntsville, Ala. Pivotal to securing the new Schriever facility was moving forward in a spirit of cooperation with the Defense Department and the Trump administration, Crank says, rather than fighting the Space Command move, as some of the state’s political leadership had urged. Crank attributed the turnabout to the community keeping “a cool head” about the Huntsville announcement.

“They (civic leaders) didn’t throw a temper tantrum and were better off for it,” Crank said.

In other words, Crank gets it. 

He is, in fact, a natural at the nuanced approach needed for a successful partnership with our nation’s military and its policymakers in Washington. And Crank can be counted on to provide precisely that kind of wise intonation as he plays a leading role navigating the Colorado Springs area’s promising future in serving the nation’s defense.

He is in a position to follow through, too, given his critical membership on the powerful House Armed Services Committee.

In a lot of ways, Jeff Crank is the consummate congressman for the Pikes Peak region. A rock-ribbed conservative who can work with anyone across the political aisle, he has won a reputation in no time as a relentless champion of his constituents on a host of issues. Whether it’s cutting through red tape for a senior missing a Social Security payment, or beating back the federal leviathan in Washington’s swamp, Crank is fit for battle. 

He has earned the vote of the 5th Congressional District, now and next November.