Candidate with babysitter on campaign payroll paves way for parents

NEW YORK (FOX5NY.COM) - Liuba Grechen Shirley is quite the multitasker. She has two young kids and she is running for Congress in New York's Second District.

"I ran because I'm deeply disturbed with the direction our country is moving in," she said.

Win or lose, she has already made history as the first woman to get approval from the Federal Election Commission to use her campaign funds to add a babysitter to the payroll.

"I wouldn't have been able to run without this," she said. "Running for office is a 24/7 job without a salary and most average Americans can't afford to do that."

Grechen Shirley, a Democrat, is looking to unseat longtime Rep. Peter King. For his part, the Republican said he has no problem at all with the FEC's decision and looks forward to facing whichever candidate wins the Democratic primary.

A resident of Amityville, Grechen Shirley said that Long Islanders are missing out on a critical voice in Congress. If elected, she plans to focus on improving issues of healthcare, tax bills, and the environment all while inspiring more women and parents to run for office.

"We need somebody who actually understands what it's like to pay school loans—that's the type of person we need in Washington," Grechen Shirley said. "Someone who knows what it's like to juggle childcare, medical bills, and school loans, and mortgage, and high property taxes."

And her kids, who were once her biggest hesitation, are ultimately the reason she decided to run.