Ellen Young (politician)

Ellen Young (Chinese: 楊愛倫; pinyin: Yáng Àilún; born 1952) is an American Democratic Party politician who represented the 22nd assembly district in the New York State Assembly. She was elected in 2006 to represent Flushing, Queens.[1]

She lost in the 2008 primary for reelection to Grace Meng. The election was hotly contested as Young was supported by John Liu (current New York City Comptroller) and Meng was supported by her father, previous Assemblyman Jimmy Meng.[2]

Young came to New York at the age of 25 from Taiwan after graduating from Takming College in Taipei. She became the first Asian woman elected to the state legislature. She had a more substantial record than many first-term Assembly members, by passing five bills into law, including a measure to extend senior-citizen services. Therefore, Young became the first Asian American to pass a law in New York State. She also presided over the body as speaker pro-tempore, a special honor.[2]

After a lengthy recovery from a near-fatal bicycling accident in her Assembly District, Young was forced to direct her energy and expertise elsewhere. She enrolled at the St. John's University Institute of Asian Studies, earning her master's degree with a Certificate of Academic Excellence in 2012.

Young was also appointed to the New York State Supreme Court Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh and Thirteenth Judicial District. Her term runs from 2011 to 2015.