“I think the biggest challenge is trusting your own core and your own instinct to do the right thing. There are a lot of influences. There are a lot of people that want to tell you what to do and how to do it.”

Involved in public service since her youth, Nancy Montgomery considers it a part of the fabric of who she is as a person. As the only Democratic party member among 8 Republican legislators in New York’s Putnam County, she finds herself in somewhat familiar territory having been raised in a family of all Republicans. Nancy describes how love for her community and a family legacy of public service led to her current role, and she gives us an insider’s look at some of the challenges, issues, and rewards, plus offers advice for those considering working in politics and public service.