Former County Council member Larry Dodd easily won a seat back on the panel he served eight years ago, beating Democrat Josh Hastings in a territory that covers southern Wicomico and the east Salisbury neighborhoods.

With 100 percent of the precincts reporting, Republican Dodd had 62 percent of the vote while Hastings had 38 percent.

Dodd, a longtime member of the county’s school board, is a former Salisbury Fire Department command member.

In 1988, Dodd received his certification as a paramedic. He started off as a volunteer for Station 2 in Salisbury before being hired in Hurlock. He returned as an employed paramedic and firefighter for Salisbury in 1994.

He reached the rank of captain before retiring in March of last year.

Two council terms ago, Dodd held the District 5 seat now occupied by fellow Republican Joe Holloway. Redistricting has since put his residence in District 3.

Hastings, who hails from a farming family in Mardela Springs, works for Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, which helps farmers and landowners preserve land through voluntary conservation easements.

Hastings previously worked in Annapolis as a legislative assistant to the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee in the State Senate.