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RANKIN INLET - A skilled and diversified council should help Rankin Inlet overcome some of the many challenges it will face this year, the new mayor of the community said.

John Hickes said he was surprised to win the municipal race by 117 votes over fellow candidate Justin Merritt this past month.

Rankin Inlet Mayor John Hickes is officially sworn in by RCMP Cpl. Gerald Ouellet as deputy mayor Harry Towtongie looks on during hamlet council's first meeting of the new year this past week. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

He said he was braced for a closer tally.

"Not to take anything away from the third candidate, Donna Adams, but I knew Justin (Merritt) was going to be a tough adversary because he's heavily involved with minor hockey and a former councillor with a good track record," said Hickes.

"I'm also coming in behind a mayor who had a solid track record in Lorne Kusugak, and Lorne being a new MLA certainly doesn't hurt our new council at all.

"He knows the community and the issues facing not only Rankin, but the entire Kivalliq region.

"It's great to follow a mayor like that and I look forward to working with him."

Hickes said there will be some tough challenges facing Rankin, especially with a slumping economy in many parts of the country.

He said he knows his councillors well and likes the variety of skills they bring to the new Rankin council.

"We have a good mix of younger people with new ideas, and some older people with lots of experience to draw upon when making decisions that will affect our community.

"When you add in the fact we also have male and female members, it's a great council in those aspects.

"I like having young councillors on board and look forward to hearing some of their ideas, especially with so many issues in this community involving young people.

"It's a plus to have that view within the council."

Hickes said everyone is aware of the problems with break-and-enters that have plagued Rankin during the past few months, and working with the community and the RCMP to curb that criminal activity is among his top priorities.

He said another issue he heard constantly during his campaign is the size of Rankin's community centre.

"Our hockey arena, community hall, swimming pool and curling rink are all under one roof and the community has simply outgrown the facility.

"There's no question our facilities are stretched to the limit.

"That's an area I intend to focus on and do whatever I can - while working in tandem with our council and the Nunavut government - to improve.

"But dollars and cents are going to be a big issue this time around, and people should understand financial resources are probably not going to be as readily available as they may have been in the past."