Flushing resident Sandra Ung announced her candidacy for the 20th City Council District office in a video on Monday.
If elected, Ung, an attorney and a special assistant to Congresswoman Grace Meng (D- Bayside, Flushing, Forest Hills, Fresh Meadows, Glendale, Kew Gardens, Maspeth, Middle Village, and Rego Park), will be the first Asian-American woman to represent Flushing in the New York City Council.
“I became an attorney and have worked in government to serve this community,” Ung said. “I vow to advocate for all in the City Council.”
The seat is opening up because the current councilmember, Peter Koo (D-Downtown Flushing, Murray Hill, and Queensboro Hill), will be one of 35 councilmembers stepping down in the end of 2021 because of term limits.
Ung is the first candidate to announce a campaign for the district, the press release said.
She wants her campaign to be based on the concerns she’s heard from residents during her time doing community outreach and constituent services such as the lack of services for seniors, and the need for help for small businesses, she said.
During the pandemic, she delivered food to first responders. She also said she vows to assist victims of domestic violence, an increasing issue during the pandemic.
“I want to spend the next year talking with my neighbors, hearing their concerns, and creating a campaign that is responsive to the needs of the community,” Ung said.
Ung was born in Cambodia but raised in Taiwan. She moved to New York City with her parents when she was 7 years old.
She grew up in Flushing, attended Flushing High School, and Hunter College. She obtained her JD from Columbia University. She’s neighbors with her parents and takes care of them, she said.
Prior to her position with Meng, she worked for Sanctuary for Families, a non-profit providing services to individuals facing domestic violence. She was a legislative assistant to former New York City Comptrollers Bill Thompson and John Liu and she was the chief of staff for former New York State Assemblymember Jimmy Meng.
Last month, Ung was re-elected as the female representative to the Democratic State Committee for Flushing in the primary.
