BETHEL – Twenty-one votes separated incumbent Rep. Arlan Jodrey, R-Bethel, and opponent Timothy Carter early Wednesday morning in District 91.

With 12 of the district’s 15 towns reporting by 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, Carter, D-Bethel, held a slim lead of 1,947 votes over Jodrey’s 1,926 tally.

Carter won Bethel, garnering 836 votes to Jodrey’s 741, and Eustis, getting 198 to Jodrey’s 174. Carter also won in Milton Township, and squeaked by Jodrey in Albany Township and Gilead.

Jodrey won Woodstock, getting 389 votes to Carter’s 354, and Newry, garnering 125 votes to Carter’s 116.

He also won Hanover, Upton, and Dallas, Lincoln, and Magalloway plantations.

Tallies were unavailable from Kingfield, Rangeley and Stoneham at press.

Carter is a political newcomer; Jodrey is seeking a third straight term.

Carter, an agricultural consultant, farmer and logger, sought to preserve Maine’s high quality of life if elected.

Jodrey, a retired pipeline supervisor, sought reelection to deal with the state’s budget problems.

He opposed the Palesky tax cap proposal, saying it would be too much of a change in a short period of time.

He also opposed allowing towns and cities the option of establishing a local sales tax, saying it would be bad for small, rural businesses.