A graduate of the State University at Albany, Chris Callaghan began his long and distinguished career in government finance in 1971, when he served as an accountant for the Facilities Development Corporation.

Mr. Callaghan went on to serve as Budget Officer for the Town of Waterford from 1980 to 1986, and as a management analyst in the Saratoga County Administrator's Office from 1983 to 1997.  In 1997, Governor George E. Pataki appointed him to fill the then-recently vacated seat of Saratoga County Treasurer.  Mr. Callaghan was elected to the position later that year and reelected in 1998 and 2002.  During his tenure as County Treasurer, he served as President of the New York State Association of County Treasurers and Finance Officers.  Mr. Callaghan resigned as Saratoga County Treasurer in July, 2006 to run for the office of New York State Comptroller.

Mr. Callaghan garnered the highest vote total of any statewide candidate on the Republican and Conservative lines in his bid to become New York State Comptroller, leading the ticket and helping to usher in a new era of accountability and reform in Albany.  Mr. Callaghan continues to be a respected voice for fiscal prudence and responsible government at the state and federal level.

Mr. Callaghan serves as treasurer of the Waterford Industrial Development Agency, and a member and past chairman of the Waterford Planning Board.  He has also served on and chaired the Capital District Regional Planning Commission.

In the areas of historic preservation and heritage promotion, Mr. Callaghan sits on the Mohawk Valley Heritage Corridor Commission, which he has co-chaired and served as treasurer, serves as treasurer for both the Hudson-Mohawk Heritage Area (RiverSpark) and the Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway, and serves as secretary and treasurer to the Waterford Maritime Historical Society.