Korean-American Business Leader and Newsman Eying Meng’s Seat

A former newspaper editor, who is now the CEO at Korean American Chamber of Commerce of New York, has taken an initial step towards running for Queens Assemblywoman Grace Meng’s seat.

Myungsuk Lee, who for 15 years worked as editor of the Korea Times, has registered a campaign committee to fundraise for a run in the Flushing-based district.The seat is 78 percent Asian-American, and Lee’s strong business credentials and community ties would appear on paper to make him a contender if he goes forward. He did not immediately return a request for comment.

I’ve heard strong rumors that Yen Chou, the Democratic nominee in a 2009 City Council race won by then-Republican Peter Koo, is also interested in running for this seat, though she hasn’t return calls seeking comment. Sunny Hahn, a Republican who was bypassed by the GOP as a candidate for the new heavily Asian-American Senate seat in Flushing, is also reportedly interested in running for the seat.

Meng’s seat has an interesting history: Until 2010, when she was unopposed, no person had ever won re-election in the district since its creation during the last round of redistricting. Still, there’s no guarantee that Meng is going anywhere. Her campaign has declined to say whether she will run for re-election to the Assembly if she is unsuccessful in her four-way Democratic congressional primary, something allowed under this year’s unusual electoral calendar.