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Politics & Government

A Salute to Frank Padavan

Supporters of the Veteran Senator Gathered to Celebrate His 38-Year Career

It was a bittersweet ending to a 38-year career.

State Sen. Frank Padavan's, R-Bellerose, supporters turned out in droves to pay tribute to the long-time legislator at a special tribute dinner last night at Leonard's of Great Neck.

Dee Richard, a columnist for the TimesLedger Newspapers who organized the event, praised Padavan for working across party lines.

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"He was a soldier, he was a senator, he was a statesman,"  said Dee Richard, a columnist for the TimesLedger Newspapers who hosted the event. "So long as it was good for the people of New York, Frank was in."

The senator was defeated by Democrat Tony Avella in November during his re-election bid.

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Mayor Michael Bloomberg was among the attendees who praised the senator, who was first elected in 1972, at the tribute.

"He may be the best state senator this state has ever had - and the most rational voice we could ever have," the mayor said as he addressed a packed room of enthusiastic Padavan supporters. "We will miss Senator Padavan up in the state Senate."

Clearly, this sentiment was shared by everyone in the room.

"It's a great loss to northern Queens and the state Senate," said Elizabeth Berney, who was the Republican candidate in the 2008 election for New York's 5th congressional district.

Berney rattled off several of Padavan's legislative achievements, such as the acquisition of Fort Totten from the Department of Defense and then its later dedication as a public park. 

"Tonight is about showing just how much Sen. Padavan has achieved and also to let him know that the people of Queens appreciate him," Berney said.

James Trent, president of the Bellerose Restoration society, said the senator kept the Queens County Farm, which was established by the society, on the radar.

"The Queens County Farm Museum owes much of its success to the labor's of Sen. Padavan who saw the importance in its preservation," he said.

Still, there was was a bittersweet air in the room as attendees lamented the loss of a political dynamo.

"It's hard saying goodbye to someone who's done so much for the people of Queens," Richards said.

Perhaps, it was Padavan who best summarized the success of his career as he dedicated his achievements to the borough residents he has come to know so well.

"Serving the people of Northern Queens has been an honor," he said. "And northern Queens would not be what it is today were it not for the efforts of all the community leaders I had the privelege of working with through the years."

Padavan's career was often characterised by his ability to reach across the aisle on key issues.

Regardless of party affiliation, attendees at the tribute agreed on one thing - Padavan will be missed in Albany.

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