A native of Mobile, Alabama, Shafer Gaston first came to Saratoga Springs as a Naval Officer in 2006. He was stationed here twice, and his kids liked the city so much they all decided to be born in the 12866 zip code. After retiring from the submarine force in 2016, he moved back to Saratoga Springs and took a role at the Naval Nuclear Laboratory as a Project Manager. Since that time, he was worked as a Project Manager, a Nuclear Operations Engineer, and is currently an Engineering Manager at Taylor Corporation, overseeing facility upkeep, safety, and capital expenditures at the Amsterdam Printing facility.
Since settling in Saratoga he has also taken on numerous volunteer roles, ranging from PTA Treasurer to professional society board member, and has advocated with both the city and the school district for rational, fact-based governance and accountability.
His professional qualifications include a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Systems from Boston University, a Master of Engineering in Industrial Engineering from Auburn University, and a Master of Business Administration from Auburn University. He is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and is certified as a Project Management Professional by the Project Management Institute. In addition to his role as an Engineering Manager, he serves on the board of the Upstate New York Project Management Institute and the Saratoga Springs Zoning Board of Appeals. He is ready and able to lead the Finance Department and represent the interests of the people at the City Council table in 2026.
Our city must work for all our residents, workers, and visitors. We are a community. Silencing voices at the city council table and turning a blind eye to inequity make us weaker - and this includes economically. If consumers and companies don't want to do business here, revenue and therefore city services are impacted. If people don't want to live here, our tax base shrinks - leaving the rest of us to pick up the tab. An inclusive environment is simply a smart economic position to take.
Our Comprehensive Plan is over ten years old - and very light on guidance for public building usage, including the need for a new Police Station or a desire to relocate some DPW functions away from the inner city. With departments planning in silos, planning for capital expenditures is impossible to do responsibly. In order to meet our city's needs without burdening us with crippling debt, a unified vision for the next ten years of capital projects is necessary.
We are long past the point where we can put our heads in the sand and believe that climate change will just pass us by. We need to maintain appropriate land use, reduce our energy reliance, and become more efficient if we are going to survive, let alone thrive, as a community. We must maintain our city's commitment to being a Climate Smart Community, and encourage public-private partnerships with local businesses and non-profits to make sustainability affordable for our residents.
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Political Parties: Shafer is endorsed by the Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee, the New York Working Families Party and the Saratoga County Young Democrats!
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