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6th District Update: Sheng Out; Lancman, Meng Sue; Mittman Stays

Ada Juan Sheng
The Courier/Photos

A democratic underdog in the 6th District Congressional primary race will not see her big dreams fulfilled this year.

Ada Juan Sheng is off the ballot and out of the race due to an insufficient number of signatures, said a Board of Elections (BOE) representative. Both candidates on the Independent bid — Grace Meng and Joseph Tiraco — also got the boot due to lack of valid petitions.

“I have a big dream for everyone to live a better life. This is what I think about,” she told The Courier days before a BOE hearing upheld objections filed against her. “I have a good heart.”

According to court records, opponent Grace Meng — the Queens County Democratic Organization’s bid — will take Sheng to state Supreme Court to dispute the validity of her filed petitions on May 7. Each hopeful had until April 16 by midnight to submit at least 938 required signatures to the city in order to appear on the ballot for the June 26 primary.

Sheng said her campaign collected at least 1,477 signatures after going door to door. She condemned Meng and her backing from the Queens County Democratic Party for attacking her in court and causing her to “needlessly expend legal and financial resources to fend off challenges.”

“I did not make up these signatures. I’m not a liar,” said Sheng, 53, a television producer from Briarwood. “Shame on her for doing this.”

Meng said she did not single out Sheng simply because she is also Asian-American. She said general objections were filed against every candidates’ petitions.

“If they don’t seem to be sufficient, according to legal standards, that’s how we decide to challenge them,” Meng said. “I know there’s been discussion about these racial politics. I think our voters are smarter than that. I don’t think they choose who they’re going to vote for simply because of ethnicity. It hasn’t really worked in the past when people tried to play those games.”

According to the BOE, only two objectors — Jeffrey Wang and Sheryl Fetik — filed challenges against Sheng. Court records show Wang listed as the objector on the suit and Meng as the aggrieved candidate.

A similar tactic was conducted by Assemblymember Rory Lancman against Robert Mittman, a Bayside allergy specialist, as confirmed by Lancman’s camp.

While Mittman will still have to defend his case in Supreme Court against his opponent later this week, he was cleared during a BOE hearing on May 1.

“I’m very pleased that the BOE found that I had enough valid petitions to remain as a candidate,” Mittman said. “I’m ready, willing and able to fight to keep myself as a candidate in front of the Supreme Court.”

According to a BOE representative, candidates typically file general, then specific objections first before a hearing is held, where both parties may state their cases to a board of BOE commissioners. The representative said if candidates follow the BOE process, they usually take the case to court after the ruling. However, they are not restricted to the process and may file suit at a time of their own choosing.