Indian American declares run for New York State Senate

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Minita Sanghvi of Saratoga Springs, NY, declared her run for the New York State Senate from District 44. She will be challenging incumbent Republican James Tedisco who has held the seat since 2016.

Sanghvi, who was elected Saratoga Springs Finance Commissioner in 2021, and re-elected this January, said in a statement, “We need a leader who will put people ahead of partisan politics in Albany and focus on solutions.  I’m not a politician.  I’m a parent, business educator, and fiscally responsible public servant, and I’ve built a record of listening to people and working with others to deliver results that improve quality of life while keeping spending down.”

NY State Senator Tedisco won his seat in 2022 with 56.4 percent of the vote to Democrat Michelle Ostrelich’s 43.5 percent. The numbers show Sanghvi will be fighting an uphill battle, but not an impossible one.

In her biography on the election campaign website, minitaforsenate.com, she says she was born to a conservative family of entrepreneurs and innovators in India who taught her the values of work hard, standing up for others, and serving her community.

After earning a degree in accounting and an MBA, and working in advertising, Sanghvi immigrated to the United States in 2001 “because America offered her the opportunity to be herself and pursue her dream of getting married and raising a family.”

She worked at various jobs ranging from shopfloor level to corporate marketing, and started her own business, all the while earning a PhD in business and economics.

She found her passion in educating college students and has been teaching business at Skidmore College now for nearly ten years.

While teaching, Sanghvi has authored two books, and served on community organizations like the Library Board and the Human Rights Task Force. She and her wife Megan, have a young son.

As Commissioner of Finance for the City of Saratoga Springs, Sanghvi says she worked to keep taxes and spending down while investing in key improvements for the city’s economy and quality of life. She funded a critical third EMS and fire station, as well as a 24/7 low-barrier homeless shelter, which she calls “an historic first.” She has also worked on getting more sidewalks, parks, and playgrounds for the community, and introduced ‘Participatory Budgeting’ to the city, which allows the public to participate directly in decisions about how a part of the city budget should be spent.

Her plans if elected include Work to build an innovation corridor that will connect Schenectady and Saratoga and foster innovation and entrepreneurship across the region; Ensure towns and cities get infrastructure dollars; Create green jobs in the district that will help protect the environment; Support safer schools; Invest in education at every level, from Head Start to high school, to technical colleges, community colleges, and the state university system; Strengthen women’s access to health care and rights for all, including the LGBTQ community; Cut wasteful spending and keep taxes down; and keep neighborhoods safe by ensuring police departments have the tools they need.