There will be at least 13 contested races for the Board of Legislators this fall as Republicans and Democrats joust for control of the legislature.

Right now, Republicans hold sway by one vote on the 29-seat board, the party’s narrowest margin of dominance in 50 years of control.

Thursday was the last day to hand in party nominating petitions to the county Board of Elections. Board personnel continued today to process the petitions and prepare candidate lists. As a result, it was not known for certain the status of candidates in all of the districts.

The board currently has 15 Republicans and 14 Democrats. All it will take to swing control to the Democrats as the new board organizes in January is for Republicans to lose one seat overall when the results are added up after the polls close Nov. 3.

Legislators serve two-year terms and are paid $8,368 annually. They also are eligible for some benefits like health insurance coverage.

Among the candidates whose petitions have already been processed is a former state commissioner of agriculture. Republican Patrick H. Brennan, 7705 Valley Road, Waterville, is challenging incumbent Democrat Edward S. Stephenson, also of Waterville, in the 3rd District.

Brennan was state agriculture commissioner in 2006.

Also, former Boonville Mayor David S. Ernst is running for legislature in the 6th District. The Democrat wants the seat held by Leslie E. Porter of Remsen.

Barring any successful petition challenges, primaries loom in two Utica districts, the 22nd and 26th. In the 22nd, first-term incumbent Shannon Scott and Bruce Brodsky, a former county legislator, both want the Democratic endorsement. Scott won the seat in February 2008 in a special election after he and Republican Howard C. Welch finished in a tie on Election Day two years ago. Welch is running again this year on the GOP line.

In the 26th, incumbent Peter A. Caruso is being challenged by Joseph A. Falcone for the Democratic endorsement. Caruso was appointed to the board last month to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Daniel LaBella following his appointment as Utica police chief.

Primary Day is Sept. 15.

Two of the races appear to be repeats of 2007.

In the 25th District in Utica, it is incumbent Democrat Larry Tanoury Jr. versus Republican William Hendricks. In 2007, Hendricks was the incumbent and Tanoury the challenger.

In the 16th District, incumber Republican Brian D. Miller of New Hartford is again being challenged by Democrat Vincent M. Nesci, also of New Hartford.