In another upset to the political establishment, Yen Chou, former and teacher at the Mary Louis Academy and statistics teacher at Queensborough Community College, got the right numbers in the Democratic primary for the 20th Council District – representing Flushing, Queensboro Hill, Mitchell Gardens, Kissena Park, Harding Heights, Auburndale and part of Whitestone.
Chou developed a lead as tallies started coming in, and when all 91 precincts had reported, she scored a clear victory with 1,825 votes (25 percent) over her nearest competitor, former cancer researcher Isaac Sasson.
John Choe, as chief-of-staff to popular incumbent John Liu and with support from party leaders, had been considered an early favorite. He finished a dismal fifth with 1,186 votes (16 percent).
Trailing the pack, only James Wu got fewer votes – 1,043 (14 percent).
State Assemblymember Mark Weprin, who handily won his own race to follow brother David to City Hall, called Chou’s win “Probably the most shocking victory in the city of New York.”
Sasson, the only non-Asian in the six-way contest, finished second, garnering 1,670 votes (23 percent) with businessman S.J. Jung close on his heels at 1,638 votes (22 percent).
Democrat Chou, who emigrated from Taiwan, will face Chinese immigrant Peter Koo who will appear on the Republican, Conservative and Independence Party lines in November.
They may both have to contend with Korean immigrant Jung, who has the Working Families Party endorsement.
