Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera Joins the Team!

Colorado Springs CO- Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera today announced that he is endorsing Bentley Rayburn in Colorado’s 5th Congressional District race. Mayor Rivera joins Colorado City Councilmen Scott Hente, Jerry Heimlicher and former Colorado Springs Mayor Harry Hoth in supporting Rayburn’s Candidacy.

In announcing his support for Rayburn, Rivera noted that Bentley’s military experience was truly the deciding factor. “Realizing that our nation is involved in a long protracted war coupled with the fact that this community is the home to five military installations leads me to believe that it is critical for the Congressman representing this district have military experience” Rivera stated.

“I am delighted to receive the endorsement today of a key community leader and a trail blazer in Lionel Rivera.” Rayburn stated. “Lionel has a record of service and leadership for the Colorado Springs community and I look forward to working with him and the many other Mayors and City Councils from throughout the district in a team effort to advance our agenda.

A Challenge to Doug Lamborn to Debate

This morning I contacted Congressman Doug Lamborn’s campaign with a letter urging him to engage in a series of issue oriented debates. The contents of that letter follow.

June 2, 2008

Representative Douglas Lamborn
3730 Sinton Road, Ste 150
Colorado Springs, CO 80907

Dear Congressman Lamborn,

On February 5, 2008, as you were announcing your candidacy for re-election I sent you a letter suggesting a series of 3 to 5 debates in order to facilitate a positive healthy exchange of ideas between candidates. Unfortunately, you did not respond to that letter.

Now with the completion of the Fifth Congressional Assembly this last Friday, and both of our campaigns submitting well over the necessary one thousand signatures required in order to qualify for the August primary ballot, I renew my call for a series of debates.

Certainly the fact that our nation will have a new President in January will dramatically change how business is done in Washington. Certainly, if the Congress remains under Democrat control your position of merely voting against Nancy Pelosi 99.7% of the time is not going to provide the leadership necessary to meet the many challenges we face as a nation. Clearly fighting the Democrat majorities will be important. However, in order to return to the majority in either House of Congress we must provide a vision for the future. I feel that the series of debates that I am proposing will give the voters in the Fifth Congressional District a first-hand view as to which candidate has the ideas and the life experience in order to begin moving our party, our district and our country forward.

In the spirit of trying to keep the campaign focused on the issues of concern to citizens of the district, my proposed series of 3 to5 debates would be hosted by key community groups, civic organizations and media outlets to provide in-depth discussions on key issues facing our community. These could include but certainly are not limited to the economy, winning the war against radical Islam, education, and healthcare.

Recognizing that August 12 is fast approaching, I suggest that the campaign managers for all three candidates meet either in person or via phone this week and compare the calendars so that these important debates can be scheduled in an expeditious fashion. My staff can be reached at (719) 884-7457

Sincerely,


BENTLEY B. RAYBURN
Candidate for Congress

The Passing of Mayor Bob Isaac

We express our deepest sympathies and offer condolences to the family of Bob Isaac. Former Mayor Bob was the first popularly elected Mayor of Colorado Springs and has remained one of the City’s most beloved political figures. He is one of the community’s most commendable leaders and will be sorely missed.

Mayor Bob was a visionary in this community and a true role model. Although my campaign has received many endorsements, I am extremely honored to have had Mayor Isaac’s support and I offer my condolences and support to the Isaac family.

Upcoming Tele-Town Hall Meeting

On Thursday, May 1 at 7:00 pm Bentley and retired Generals Billy Thomas and Mark Volcheff, along with astronaut Brian Duffy will host a tele-town hall with voters in the 5th Congressional District on the subject of national security and the threat of radical Islam. Anyone interested in participating may call the Rayburn campaign headquarters at 719 884-7457.

Military and Defense Leaders Endorsements

Today Bentley Rayburn released a partial list of military and defense leaders who have endorsed his candidacy for the U.S. Congress. “According to the Constitution, the primary function of the Congress is to provide for the common defense of our citizens. With that in mind, I am very honored to receive the endorsement of so many of our military and defense leaders listed below,” Rayburn said. “The fact is that there are fewer members of Congress with any kind of military experience now than there has been since World War II. Statistics show that less than 20% of our Congress has any military experience. When I am elected I plan to call upon many of these key leaders to provide me with guidance, recommendations and technical expertise. Understanding that the largest sector of our local economy is based on military and defense spending, I also intend to work diligently to bridge the gap that often exists between the military and business community in order to provide greater economic opportunities for our Fifth District communities.”

“I believe that fostering this relationship will lead to a stronger military by encouraging new ideas and technologies found in the business world to be brought into military and defense organizations,” Rayburn explained, “and will provide important job creation in a time in which our economy could benefit from new and innovative approaches.”

“I’ve worked with Bentley Rayburn for many years. He has the background, experience and vision that we badly need in Washington as our country faces some of the biggest challenges and threats that we have seen since World War II,” said retired U.S. Army Major General Robert Mixon, immediate past commander of Fort Carson.

Today’s endorsements include:

The Honorable Peter Teets, Former Undersecretary of the Air Force
General John Lorber, USAF (Ret)
General Lance Lord, USAF (Ret)
General John “Pete” Piotrowski, USAF (Ret)
General Ron Yates, USAF (Ret)
Lieutenant General A.P. Clark, USAF (Ret)
Lieutenant General Bruce Fister, USAF (Ret)
Lieutenant General Billy Thomas, USA (Ret)
Lieutenant General Thad Wolfe, USAF (Ret)
Major General George Douglas, USAF (Ret)
Major General Felix Dupre, USAF (Ret)
Major General Larry Fortner, USAF (Ret)
Major General John Hawley, USAF (Ret)
Major General John Mitchell, USA (Ret)
Major General Robert Mixon, USA (Ret)
Major General Frank Willis, USAF (Ret)
Brigadier General Dick Abel, USAF (Ret), Former President Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Former U.S. Olympic Committee Public Affairs
Brigadier General Teddy E. Rinebarger, USAF (Ret)
Brigadier General Malham “Mal” Wakin, USAF (Ret)
Colonel Bob Carlone, USAF (Ret), Co-Founder, The Home Front Cares
Colonel Vic Fernandez, USA (Ret), Past President, Military Officers Association of America; Past Chairman, Southern Colorado National Veterans’ Cemetery Committee
Colonel Joe Henjum, USAF (Ret), Co-Founder The Home Front Cares
Chaplain Bill Leonard, USN (Ret)
Colonel Stephen Leonard, USA (Ret)
Colonel Jim Mundt, USA (Ret)
Colonel Jim Palmer, USAF (Ret), Former Peterson AFB Base Commander, Former Senior VP for Government and Military Affairs, Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce
Chief Master Sergeant Ed Bell, USAF (Ret)
Chief Master Sergeant “Joe” Joseph, USAF (Ret)
Chief Master Sergeant Bill Legere, USAF (Ret)
Chief Master Sergeant Ron Miller, USAF (Ret)
Master Sergeant Wally Jones, USAF (Ret), President, The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA), Chapter One
Mr. Paul Darrow, USMC ’53-’55, President, Korean War Veterans Association, 2nd VP Pikes Peak Veterans’ Council
Mr. John Eck, Pearl Harbor Survivor

YouTube Endorsement Video Series

Today we released the first in a series of YouTube endorsement videos. These videos will feature a wide spectrum of individuals from throughout the district explaining in their own words why they support Bentley Rayburn for congress.

The first endorsement video features former Congressman Joel Hefley’s Chief of Staff, Connie Scott Solomon. Solomon served as Hefley’s Chief of Staff for six years ending in 2004.

Former Colorado Springs Mayor Bob Isaac Endorses Bentley Rayburn

Former longtime Colorado Springs mayor Bob Isaac announced today that he is endorsing my candidacy in Colorado’s Fifth Congressional District race. Mayor Isaac is the first popularly elected mayor of Colorado Springs. He was first elected in April of 1979 and reelected to five consecutive terms. I am honored that this great leader has joined the team and I look forward to learning from his experience.

“I believe this is a critical time for our country and Bentley Rayburn will provide our community the leadership it desperately needs. His ability to bring people together to solve problems will benefit our community for many years," Isaac said.