ALFRED — York County Sheriff Maurice Ouellette bested challenger Paul Main in the Democratic primary for sheriff Tuesday.

In unofficial results, Ouellette beat his opponent by 947 votes, earning 7,692 votes to Main’s 6,745.

Ouellette, of Cornish, will face Republican challenger Craig Gagne of Springvale in the Nov. 2 election.

“The victory is very satisfying,” said Ouellette, just before 2 a.m. today. “I’m looking forward to the general election and to bringing five (deputies) on in the very near future.”

Ouellette will be hiring those deputies to replace seven who were laid off in September along with 17 other county government workers, as county commissioners worked through a fiscal crisis brought on, at least in part, by a change in the state law that governs the use of prisoner boarding revenues. A new budget year saw municipalities shouldering more of the county tax burden, and allowed the county to restore about 15 jobs ”“ including five in the sheriff’s rural patrol division.

Ouellette, who served eight years as chief deputy before his election to sheriff four years ago, said he will move forward with his plan to seek accreditation for York County Jail and for the sheriff’s rural patrol division.

“We’ll continue to move forward in a positive direction,” he said.

Ouellette retired after 23 years with the Maine State Police, where he worked in homicide and as a supervisor with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. He assisted the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office in their transition to a new jail, and later operated Cornish Service Center. He began his law enforcement career with Sanford Police.

The Democratic sheriff’s primary was Main’s first run for office and early this morning he said it will be his last. Main, of Alfred, had previously served 18 years with the sheriff’s office, from 1980 to 1998 and now works in security at Southern Maine Medical Center.

“We gave it the best try we could,” said Main as the returns from various municipalities pointed to a victory for his opponent. “I’m proud of the people who worked hard on this. I had a wonderful support group.”

Main said he was grateful to everyone who took the time to vote. He won in 12 of the county’s 29 municipalities, earning wins in small and medium-sized communities. Among his wins were in York, where he bested Ouellette 423 to 295. He eked out a win in Kennebunk, with 467 votes to Ouellette’s 424 and in Wells with 340 to Ouellette’s 216.

Ouellette however, prevailed in the rest ”“ including both small towns and in the larger communities like Biddeford, Saco and Sanford.

In Kennebunkport, voters were equally divided on who they wanted to see run on the Democratic ticket in November ”“ each candidates won 186 votes.

— Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 or twells@journaltribune.com.