Incumbent State Sen. Frank Padavan, a Queens Republican, is expected to return as a victor to Albany next week following months of recounts and challenges in his race against Democrat James Gennaro, a New York City Council member.

Padavan says the net change in a review of 2,708 invalid ballots shows him winning by 578 votes instead of 580. A judge is scheduled to review recount results Thursday and is expected to allow the New York City Board of Elections to certify the results.

Padavan, who said he’s been staying up on issues from his district office, will be returning to a changed Senate, with Democrats holding a 32-30 majority, their first control of the chamber in 43 years.

“I feel like I’ve never been away,” he said, adding the job remains representing the people in the district.

In the only significant vote so far this year, the Senate passed legislation Tuesday evening to cut the current state budget deficit by $1.6 billion, voting 32-29 along party lines. Padavan said his absence didn’t make a lot of difference since Democratic leaders and Gov. David Paterson developed the measure without input from lawmakers in the new GOP minority.

Democratic leaders countered that many components were Paterson proposals on the table since last year.

“We welcome Senator Padavan back and our Conference looks forward to working with him and his colleagues throughout the session,” said Austin Shafran, spokesman for Senate Democratic Majority Leader Malcolm Smith.

Republicans also complained that the challenge to Padavan has been dragged out unnecessarily. “This election was over months ago and the Democrats have been disenfranchising the people of Queens by dragging out the process and keeping the people from having a representative in the Senate,” said Mark Hansen, spokesman for the Senate Republicans.

Gennaro campaign spokesman Mike Barfield said all unresolved ballot issues in the 11th State Senate race should be resolved in court tomorrow. “Our prime focus is and has always been that all valid ballots be identified and counted. We will comment on the outcome of the election once the court has issued its ruling and all outstanding ballots have been tabulated,” he said.

Gennaro declined a request to comment Wednesday.

Source: AP