 Quickly decided the favorite, Dovilla still faced strong opposition in a negative and costly campaign.In an overwhelmingly Republican year, Dovilla bested Patten by about 2000 votes.He was sworn into his first term on January 3, 2011, and served as a member of the committees on Economic and Small Business Development; Education (vice-chairman, 2012); State Government and Elections and its Subcommittee on Redistricting; and Ways and Means (vice-chairman 2011-2012).