East Lyme - Incumbent Democratic Rep. Ed Jutila, running unopposed, was elected Tuesday to his fifth term serving the 37th District encompassing East Lyme and Salem.

A total of 6,840 voters in East Lyme and 1,423 voters in Salem cast ballots for Jutila. That represents about 56 percent of East Lyme's registered voters and about 51 percent of Salem's, according to unofficial preliminary results Tuesday evening.

Jutila, 57, is House Deputy Majority Whip and vice chairman of the Public Safety and Security Committee. He said he will focus his next term on job creation, balancing the budget and implementing transportation improvements, such as a commuter rail station in Niantic.

He began Election Day by voting with his granddaughter, and he enjoyed sharing ideas with residents and seeing friends and neighbors at the polls without worrying about the election's outcome.

"I actually have been savoring every moment of this election," he said.

k.drelich@theday.com