By Stephen Stirling
After a divisive state Assembly race, Grace Meng said she expects Democratic leaders in Flushing to move forward as a unified front following her upset of incumbent Assemblywoman Ellen Young (D-Flushing) in the Democratic primary last week.
With no Republican challenger, Meng is virtually assured to win the 22nd Assembly District seat this November after a Young spokesman confirmed this week that she would not continue her campaign after losing the Sept. 9 primary.
Meng won a decisive victory in the election, gathering more than 58 percent of the votes cast, easily besting Young, who finished with 41 percent. A source close to the Young campaign said though she will remain on the ballot for November's general election on the Working Families and Independence lines, but the freshman legislator will cease campaign activities due to the extent of Meng's win.
The weeks leading up to the election showcased two bitterly fought campaigns. Political squabbling between the two groups reached its climax days before the primary, when Young's campaign accused Meng of racism for allegedly characterizing the Taiwanese-born Young's mediocre command of the English language as a disadvantage.
Meng, however, said bruises sustained on the campaign trail are quick to heal.
“This was an election and now that the election season for the primary is over we will all work together as best we can,” Meng said. “I'm a loyal Democrat and any way I can help the party, I will.”
Meng is expected to receive the endorsement of the Queens Democratic Party and she said she plans to meet with party leader U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Jackson Heights) in the coming weeks.
Meng said she also received a congratulatory call from City Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing), a close ally and mentor of Young, with whom she hopes to discuss her legislative agenda in the near future.
Liu and Meng have been two of the most powerful names in Flushing politics for several years. Liu was the first AsianAmerican elected to public office in New York state in 2001, while Meng's father, Jimmy Meng, became the first Asian American to be elected to the state Legislature three years later.
The two groups often butt heads, however, most notably when Liu backed his chief of staff — Young — over Grace Meng when Jimmy Meng stepped down from office in 2006.
Democratic District Leader James Wu, who defeated challenger Terence Park in the primary, said while Liu and Meng may share differing philosophies, he expects they will work together.
“They don't have to love each other. They've functioned together in office before,” Wu said, speaking of when Grace Meng worked in her father's office. “First and foremost, their interest is in doing their jobs. Regardless of their personal philosophies, they have a job to do for their constituents, and they know that.”
Though Wu defeated Park soundly in his race for district leader, a familiar face remained locked in a contested battle for one of two female district leader slots in the district. Former City Councilwoman Julia Harrison was just nine votes behind incumbent Mei-Hua Ru, according to unofficial tallies from the state board of elections.
Voting machines were expected to be recounted Tuesday, while absentee ballots were expected to be counted Wednesday to make the results official.
Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e-mail at Sstirling@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, ext. 138.
