With the goal of encouraging more women to run for local political office, a new political action committee is launching in Saratoga County. Our Matt Hunter has the details.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – As a former four-term county supervisor and two-term mayor in Saratoga Springs, Joanne Yepsen is well aware of how outnumbered women are serving in elected office.

"The city of Saratoga Springs has made some progress for sure but the county, not so much," said Yepsen, who chose not to run for re-election this past fall.

Yepsen is among those who believe that's poised to change.

"I've seen more women come out of the woodwork that want to run for office in the last year and a half than I've ever seen," she said.

Inspired in part by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's "Get Off the Sidelines" political action committee, Yepsen is partnering with other local leaders to launch CapitalWomen Saratoga. The PAC will be designed to help recruit more women to run for local office.

"It's overwhelming for so many people who haven't done it yet,” Yepsen said. “We're going to provide, sort of, the road map."

“There's always roadblocks to women running. It's called money," CapitalWomen co-founder Libby Post said.

Providing guidance on networking and fundraising, the group is the second chapter of CapitalWomen, which formed in Albany after Donald Trump's election to the White House in 2016.

"I think you are seeing women all over the place saying ‘no’ to that particular brand of politics," Post said.

The Albany chapter pumped $17,000 into local races this past November, supporting candidates -- both male and female -- who support women's rights.

“Seventy percent of our candidates won. We were very pleased with the outcome,” Post said.

"We're non-partisan,” Saratoga Springs County Supervisor Tara Gaston said. “But we do work for progressive candidates who have the appropriate views on women's issues, LGBTQ and reproductive issues."

One of three women serving on the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors, Gaston is one of the first candidates they helped elect.

"They helped guide me in what decisions I needed to make, who I needed to talk to," Gaston said.

On the eve of the 107th International Women's Day, CapitalWomen Saratoga will officially launch this coming Wednesday night with a kick-off event at Longfellow's here in Saratoga Springs.

"There are some pockets that just haven't had any women candidates ever,” Yepsen said. “We're looking forward to encouraging more women to get out there and put their hat in the ring."

The kick-off event runs from 6:30 until 8:30 Wednesday night at Longfellow's. For more information, visit the event's website.