Fosters.com
April 9, 2010

During an editorial board meeting earlier this week at Fosters' Daily Democrat, Republican primary congressional candidate Bob Bestani was asked a telling question:

"Do you know too much to be in Congress?"

It is a question the Newmarket resident says he gets asked quite often in his campaign to unseat U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, D-N.H., in November.

Bestani sports a resume that some may think makes him overqualified to be in Congress.

During his 35-year career, Bestani has worked both here and abroad — at one time in the U.S. Treasury Department where one of his employees was current treasury head Tim Geithner to leading the Asian Development Bank for six years.

As a youth, he learned to speak Arabic while his family lived overseas in Lebanon. Later while attending the University of Chicago, he studied under noted economist Milton Friedman.

Bestani believes all this gives him the knowledge to serve constructively in Congress. The candidate says these past 35 years also give him the ability to resist the allure of Washington that often corrupts younger elected officials — those who wind up representing the interests of Congress over those of their state.

In addition, he says this translates into the backbone to resist the party line, unlike Shea-Porter who has saddled right up to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

To make the point, Bestani says he opposed the United States' invasion of Iraq and would have had no trouble bucking the GOP.

On the other hand, he sees the need to stand up to the recent health care bill that has the country headed for bankruptcy in 10-15 years, much as appears to be the case for California.

Whether Bestani will wind up representing the Republican Party in November is an open question. The GOP has a broad field from which to choose and Foster's has many more editorial board meetings before offering any endorsements.

That said, Bestani is impressively credentialed. He is knowledgeable with experience New Hampshire voters would be able to trust.

In that regard, he reminds this newspaper of GOP U.S. Senate hopeful Bill Binnie who sat down with Foster's in February.

Both are studied, experienced, knowledgeable and show the wisdom of their years.

Again, no endorsements. But both are well-qualified to conduct business in Washington D.C. on behalf of the Granite State.

So far the choice for GOP primary voters will be a good one: who is the most qualified?