New York (Apr. 26) - Grace Meng sued Juan Sheng in state Supreme Court yesterday to have Sheng thrown off the ballot in the June 26 federal primary election of the Democratic Party.
"It is a shame that Grace Meng feels the need to fight this election in the courtroom instead of at the ballot box. We collected at least 1,477 signatures from persons claiming to be enrolled Democrats residing within the 6th Congressional District and we need only file 938. We will vigorously contest the objections to my petition before the Board of Elections and in state Supreme Court," Sheng said.
Ballot access in New York State is difficult and candidates with large political organizations behind them, like Grace Meng has with the Queens County Democratic Party Committee, can prevent legitimate candidates who have demonstrated a modicum of support from getting on the ballot by suing them in court and causing them to needlessly expend legal and financial resources to fend off challenges. "While New York's election law provides for such challenges, at their heart they are extremely undemocratic proceedings and any candidate that demonstrates a modicum of support should be allowed on the ballot," Sheng said.
Juan Sheng is a member of Emily's List, an organization dedicated to encouraging more women to run for public office. She also was encouraged to run for public office by Senator Kirsten Gillbrand. Ms. Sheng participated in Senator Kirsten Gllibrand's "Off the Sidelines" program which also encourages women to run for public office. Thus, it is very ironic that the candidate endorsed by Emily's List, Grace Meng, should be the person challenging Ms. Sheng's designating petition and attempting to throw her out of the race. "If Emily's List really is interested in more women running for public office, why is it that the candidate they endorsed is challenging the designating petitions of an Emily's List member?" asked Ms. Sheng.
"I am running for Congress because none of the other candidates are talking about the most important issue facing the country: campaign finance reform. The country needs a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC. I wish the press would give more coverage to this issue and ask why the other candidates are not talking about it," Sheng said. "The public should not vote for any candidate that does not pledge to support a constitutional amendment overturning Citizens United v. FEC," Sheng said.
And in other Meng news, the Queens Chronicle isn't buying her MultiMedia excuses.
