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Just elected to the State Assembly in 2006, Ellen Young (D-Flushing) faces the strong possibility she may only serve one term in Albany. Oncoming challenger Grace Meng, daughter of former area assembly representative Jimmy Meng is challenging the incumbent to a primary fight Tuesday, Sept. 9, and is confident she can win.

As the crucial day fast approaches Meng is positive about the race.

“I feel confident that we can win, and I encourage people to come out and vote. We have had a lot of dialogue with different parts of the Flushing community and I am confident we will do well on the ninth.”

The race has taken on larger proportions with some in the community viewing it as a referendum on the ethnic politics in Flushing.

Short on policy differences, these candidates have distinguished themselves along ethnic and social lines.

The Meng camp has charged Young is beholden to the interests of the older, entrenched community and has shunned a diversity of voices.

According to Meng this is evidenced by her close relationship with City Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing), the first Asian-American elected to city office.

Young’s ballot is dominated by fellow Chinese-American’s while Meng has made a concerted effort, both for publicity and voter appeal to include a Latino and Korean-American on her ticket.

Adding to her broader appeal, especially to Hispanic voters, Meng was just endorsed by former Bronx Borough President and mayoral candidate Fernando Ferrer.

Ferrer recognizes how crucial this race could be and said he believes Meng is the best person for the seat.

“Grace is a great candidate for this district, she understands the needs of the Latino families and will represent them well in Albany,” Ferrer said. “I have known Grace for years, she is a good friend and the reason I support her candidacy is because I believe she is the best candidate and not just my friend.”

Joe Reubens, campaign spokesman for the Ellen Young Campaign, refutes the claim that Young only caters to the Chinese-Americans noting Democratic District Leader Martha Flores- Vazquez, a Latino, among others are on her slate.

“It’s part of the dirty campaign of lies,” he said. “Ellen represents a diverse district and she does it extraordinarily well.”

Reubens said Young’s work in the district with schools and senior services has no ethnic bias.

Besides each candidates background there are few other differences between the candidates.

Both candidates stress education, housing, senior care and quality of life in the bustling Flushing area as major concerns, issues they pledge to work on if elected.

Meng challenged Young for the seat in 2006. She was hurt in that campaign by questions about her residency and the Young camp has claimed she has tenuous ties to the community she wants to represent.

So far Meng trails Young in fund raised – the incumbent has raised $234,000 to Meng’s $147,000, but the challenger has received more donations in the last filing period – 81,000 to 34,000 respectively.