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The Queens County Republican Party called for the Board of Elections to cease the ongoing recount procedures that have been taking place since Election Day in an attempt to determine the winner in the unresolved 11th District State Senate race between Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellmore) and Councilman James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows).

Following a court hearing on Tuesday, in which Republican lawyers challenged the votes of about a dozen local university students, whom they claimed neglected to fill out affidavit ballots with their permanent addresses, Queens GOP Chairman Phil Ragusa released a statement calling for Democrats to stop delaying certification of Padavan’s re-election. He accused the Democrats of using “senseless legal wrangling and attempts to count improper ballots already invalidated” through a bipartisan process at the Queens County Board of Elections.

“From the very beginning of this count, we have maintained that every legally cast ballot should be counted and despite the baseless and erroneous claims made by the Queens Democratic Party and their political consultants, absolutely no voter disenfranchisement has occurred,” Ragusa said in the statement.

Two weeks ago, lawyers for the Queens Democratic Party accused their Republican counterparts of unfairly contesting ballots, many based on race. Vince Tabone, a lawyer for the Queens Republican Party, said that, out of 8,000 paper ballots, the Republican council contested only 252 ballots. Despite these figures, the ongoing disputes over unfair ballot recounts has resulted in the dismissal of Republican clerk Katherine A. James, who was replaced with another Republican clerk, Anthony Andriulli of Staten Island – a change that has further infuriated the Queens GOP’s.

“Katherine James is a fantastic public servant whose integrity is beyond reproach,” Tabone said. “Anyone who would suggest otherwise is foolish and outrageous. In every shape and form, she has followed the law.”

But Evan Stavisky, a spokesperson for the Queens Democrats, said the recount process became a lot smoother after this change. As of Wednesday, a total of 2,000 ballots remain to be reviewed by the court – 250 from the first round of counts and 1,750 from the second round, he said.

“These 2,000 voters took the time and effort to have their voices heard and they shouldn’t be disenfranchised,” Stavisky said.