Chapter Twenty-Nine - On the Brink of: the Campaign Trail

Two aspiring New York State Senate candidates from the Capital District talk about indignities and inconveniences of a political career, including begging for money, plastering neighborhoods with lawn signs, and coming up with a Plan B in case they lose. Alvin Gamble  is a Colonie NY Town board member running for the District 43 State Senate seat. He grew up in Colonie, graduating  from Colonie Central High School in 1979. He then went to SUNY Brockport and has worked since 1983 for what is now the National Grid Power Company. He and his wife Abbey, a nurse, have two children. He is a lifelong union member (Electrical workers) and an ordained deacon at his Baptist Church in Albany. He is an advocate of reproductive rights for all, protecting the environment and public education. Minita Sanghvi is the Commissioner of Finance on the Saratoga Springs NY City Council. She moved with her family to the US from India in 2001 and went on to earn an undergraduate degree in accounting, an MBA and a PhD. She worked first in industry and now is a tenured business professor at Skidmore College. She is also a parent.  She was the first LGBTQ+ member of the Saratoga council and is running to become a state senator from the 44th District. On the city council she helped get new sidewalks, parks and playgrounds. In the senate she hopes to help towns get infrastructure dollars, and supports women’s access to health care and LGBTQ+ rights.