Meng has two opponents in race for Assembly seat

Ask Terence Park what prominent issues face the three candidates looking to fill the 22nd District Assembly seat, now held by Jimmy Meng, and he could go on for hours. His focus is already locked in, with an eye on what he plans to accomplish if elected.
Affordable housing, better health services, clean and safe streets, decent public education and adequate parking; they all concern Park, who just a few weeks ago officially announced his intentions of running for the open Assembly seat and opened his campaign headquarters.
Park certainly has the credentials. A member of Community Board #7, Park has been a board member for eight years on the community advisory council of New York Hospital Queens and Flushing Hospital, and has served as a Democratic District Leader in the 22nd District since 2004. He was also a Project Planner during the mayoral terms of Ed Koch and David Dinkins, serving their office of midtown enforcement and helping to clean up Times Square. He was the Queens Borough Coordinator at the New York City Housing Authority under Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.
Joining Park in the race in addition to Grace Meng is Ellen Young, who recently earned the Queens County Democratic Party endorsement. “I think it’s a great boost,” she said, “but it’s up to the voters to make the decision.”
Young, Councilman John Liu’s district administrator for four and a half years, made the decision to run for Meng’s seat recently. Although she may not have Park’s vast experience, she does know a thing or two about legislation. “I have made every decision in that office,” she said. “With my involvement of legislation, knowing how the government operates … I’ve been a volunteer and an activist fighting hard for our community, I know exactly what the community needs.”
Young listed affordable housing and living wages, along with better public education, as key issues she is intent on tackling. But the development of downtown Flushing would be her top priority. As for what she can offer the borough, she said, “It’s very simple: I will continue to offer my passion and 100 percent devotion. … That’s my strongest asset.”
Born in Taiwan, Young migrated here in 1977 at the age of 25. She has served the community in one way or another for 27 years, from being an auxiliary police officer to helping out on the legal advisory board for Queens District Attorney Richard Brown to serving as the President of the Friends of Queens Library.