Since when is running for public office a disqualifying factor for holding an existing public office? The short answer is: It’s not.
It’s not for Democrats. It’s not for Republicans. It’s not for public officers running for election to another public office. It’s not for public office holders running for re-election. It’s not a disqualifying factor for local council members. It’s not a disqualifying factor for governors or state legislators or members of Congress.
So if Republicans in Saratoga Springs want city Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi out of office, they’ll have to do it the old-fashioned way. Beat her on Election Day.
And while they’re at it, they need to stop all their histrionics in demanding her resignation from the City Council because she’s running for state Senate. Their effort just makes them look petty, childish and out of touch with political reality.
Public officials are always looking for the next opportunity to climb the political ladder.
Municipal board members regularly run for town supervisor or mayor or county legislator. County executives and members of Congress regularly run for governor. Members of the state Assembly run for state Senate. Members of the state Legislature run for Congress.
If the Republicans’ argument is that an elected official can’t fully commit to their current public position because of outside time commitments, what do they say to politicians who hold other jobs, run businesses, have families or run for re-election as incumbents?
This isn’t to say Republicans don’t have a point here.
Sanghvi was only re-elected as finance commissioner in November, and the ink was barely dry on her oath of office for City Council when she officially announced her bid to unseat state Sen. Jim Tedisco earlier this month.
Republicans can make a good case that her decision to run for state Senate demonstrates a lack of commitment to serving the citizens of Saratoga Springs for her full term. The Senate election is this fall, less than a year after Sanghvi will have taken office.
Republicans also can argue credibly that she should have disclosed to Saratoga Springs voters that she might not serve her full term because she was looking at a Senate run this year.
And they can say voters weren’t given the opportunity to consider how much time, attention and effort she’d have to devote to campaigning for Senate against a popular incumbent in a district that covers a far larger and more diverse area than Saratoga Springs.
But all those are issues for the voters of Saratoga Springs to consider when she next appears on a ballot, whether in 10 months for Senate or in 2025 for finance commissioner.
Running for another office while holding an office is not unusual or unique to one particular office or political party.
It’s certainly not a reason to call for the resignation of a duly elected public official.
Move on, Republicans.