In a hard fought race, Rep. Linda Valentino, D-Saco, was the victor against Rep. Donald Pilon, D-Saco, for the Democratic nomination for Senate District 5, which represents Saco, part of Biddeford, Buxton, Dayton and Old Orchard Beach. The vote was 1,730 to 875.

Neither can run again for their current House district positions because of term limits. Sen. Barry Hobbins, D-Saco, who is serving his fourth term for Senate District 5, is also termed out.

In Saco, Valentino earned 988 to Pilon’s 433 votes; in Biddeford, the vote was 95-78; the vote was 197-133 in Buxton; 72-45 in Dayton; and 378-186 in Old             Orchard Beach.

Valentino, 56, has a bachelor’s degree from University of Southern Maine and has worked as a paralegal. She is married, with one adult daughter and two adult stepchildren.

Valentino said that she wanted to thank her friends and family for their support in her campaign. She also thanked those who voted for her and said she was very appreciative of the great turnout at the polls.

“I think people in our area appreciate that I run a positive campaign and stay true to clean elections,” she said.

She said should she win the November election, she would like to be on the transportation committee and would like to get more money in the area for transportation projects, which will help create jobs.

The Republican nominee, Timothy Sevigny, ran unopposed. He earned 46 votes in Biddeford, 334 in Buxton, 145 in Dayton, 306 in Old Orchard Beach, and 763 in Saco.

SENATE DISTRICT 4

Dennis Dutremble handily won the Democratic nomination for Senate District 4, which includes Arundel, part of Biddeford, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, over his opponent James Emerson. The vote was 1,696 to 560.

If he wins in November, this would be Dutremble’s first elected political position.

Dutremble, 44, is married to his wife, Charlene, and has five children, ages ranging from 3 to 26 years old.

He is a lieutenant with the Biddeford Fire Department, where he has worked for 24 years. He is a Biddeford High School graduate, Class of 1985.

Prior to the election, Emerson said he had wanted to drop out of the race, but it was too late to do so when he made his decision.

Sen. Nancy Sullivan, D-Biddeford, who currently holds the position, is serving her fourth term and was disqualified from running again because of term limits.

In Biddeford, the vote was 1,132 to 364; it was 299-111 in Kennebunk; 148-55 in Kennebunkport; and 117-30 in Arundel.

Dutremble is all but a shoo-in to win in November since there is no Republican nominee.