Talcott: On Vetting Our U.S. Rep in the 1st C.D

By Alex Talcott

While leaders of both parties were dubious of $355,000 U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta, R-NH, characterized as a self-loan, I remained hopeful during a period of the Federal Election Commission investigation. Perhaps we would learn about some great success in a limited insurance career in his 20s or how he put a master’s degree in intellectual property to work.

New Hampshire candidates often get a pass in the media when they self-declare or are termed a “businessman,” “activist,” or another career or civic descriptor. With a Carol Shea-Porter re-re-re-match not guaranteed, let’s vet the 1st Congressional District field. It’s a competitive seat nationally and already being contested as open.

Shea-Porter can detail any U.S. armed services and natural resources committee achievements as well as earlier social work and community college teaching in Colorado, Louisiana, and Maryland.

Dan Innis’s second serious primary of Guinta is an opportunity for the electorate to go deeper than reading “businessman” and “former UNH Business dean.” He has recent hotel projects, nonprofit fundraising, and marketing scholarship, some or all of which may inform his policies and priorities.

Pam Tucker, in her fourth term in the NH House and having served as Deputy Speaker in just her second, has a record to run on. Her biography includes an entry-level-to-management business story and activity in her children’s school.

Rich Ashooh worked on Capitol Hill for as long as Guinta or Shea-Porter, prior to 20 years in senior roles at defense contractor BAE Systems.

Shawn O’Connor is a first-time candidate with elite, extensive education who is making the personal political, including perspective on food service wages, Social Security Disability, and putting up money to start a business.

Experience doesn’t always evidence excellence, so we’ll ask and look for success and potential. Here’s to finding an excellent U.S. representative.

Alex Talcott lives in Durham