CAMPAIGN 2006 Park running for Meng’s Assembly seat

Terence Park will take part in the primaries in September to try to become the Democratic candidate for the 22nd Assembly District.
Park, who was born in Korea, came to the United States in 1973 as a teenager. His father had always believed that community service was important. This idea was something that always stayed with Park.
“I think subconsciously it was imbedded in me; it was in my heart,” Park said.
Currently, Park is the Democratic District Leader for the 22nd Assembly District and a member of Community Board 7. He is also a board member of the New York Hospital Queens and Flushing Hospital community advisory councils.
In the past, he worked as Project Planner under former mayors Edward Koch and David Dinkins. Under Rudy Giuliani, he was the Queens Borough Coordinator at the New York City Housing Authority.
Although Park did not receive the endorsement from the Queens County Democratic Organization, he is still going ahead with his campaign, saying that he received a great deal of encouragement to do so from his many supporters.
Currently, Jimmy Meng is the Assemblyman for the 22nd District. Citing health problems, he has declined to run for re-election.
Park first ran for public office in 2001 when he tried to get a City Council seat, losing by 500 votes.
The major issues that Park said need to be addressed are the lack of affordable housing, improving the public education system and creating a better health system. Park also said that the amount of parking in downtown Flushing needs to be doubled so that people will continue to visit the area.
“It’s a matter of survival of a whole community,” Park said.
Park also wants to examine the zoning in Flushing in order to preserve the neighborhoods.
If elected to the New York State Assembly, Park said that he will make himself totally accessible to all of his constituents.
“I believe I’m qualified to be a servant of our community,” Park said.