Jimmy Meng, who made his name as a businessman in Flushing for more than two decades, yesterday became the first state lawmaker of Asian-American heritage.
The China-born immigrant, who lived in Taiwan before moving to the United States in 1973, was the projected winner late last night and led comfortably in the 22nd Assembly District race in Flushing against Republican Meilin Tan. He also was well-ahead of two third-party candidates.
After Meng learned from his campaign workers that he had won, he was immediately cheered by people in his office and was mobbed by his closest supporters.
"I am proud to be an American, and I am very proud of our great country's democratic institutions which provided great opportunities for me to run for public office to help my community," he said.
"I'd like to reach out to all the people who make up all the ethnic groups," Meng said. "I will try to ask them what I can do for them."
Meng becomes the second Asian-American from New York City elected to a legislative body. In 2001, Democrat John Liu of Flushing was elected to the City Council.
Meng's victory came after he edged out one-term incumbent Barry Grodenchik in September's Democratic primary and amid sharp criticism from opponents that he asked Chinese voters to send him to Albany because he too is Chinese.
But those criticisms and others subsided after the primary and were followed by enthusiastic endorsements from Queens Democratic party members.
After Meng and his wife, Shiao Mei Meng, cast their votes at PS 20 on Barclay Avenue in Flushing yesterday morning, Meng was mobbed by reporters from the Chinese media.
"I don't like people calling me a politician," Meng said. "I'd like people calling me a political volunteer."
Last night, Meng calmly monitored the results in his office above his Flushing bookstore before he headed to a nearby restaurant for a victory celebration he billed as an event to thank his supporters.
Meng said his victory came about because of his vigilant campaign. He said he visited thousands of voters at their homes and conducted daily voter registration drives in front of the Flushing Library.
"I started to go door-to-door June 28," he said. "I didn't stop even one night. I really had to meet the voters face to face, shake hands."