DIXFIELD – By 12:40 a.m. Wednesday, incumbent Rep. Randy Hotham, moved ahead of political newcomer Linda Petrie, D-Mexico, by 99 votes in the District 93 race.

Petrie won Mexico, garnering 915 votes to Hotham’s 579.

Hotham won Dixfield, tallying 788 votes to Petrie’s 530; Carthage, getting 153 votes to Petrie’s 131; and Peru, garnering 541 votes to Petrie’s 386. Canton had not yet reported at press time.

Hotham, a service technician for MeadWestvaco, is seeking a second term to make Maine a friendlier place in which to do business, and thus, to create jobs.

If re-elected, he said he would improve the state economy.

Petrie, a retired teacher of 38-years, said her priorities were economic development, health care, taxes and tax relief, education and the environment.

She said that cuts made to Medicaid and the drugs to the elderly last year were particularly troubling, even though they were made to reduce the deficit.