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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
The riding of Nahendeh gave incumbent Kevin Menicoche an early birthday present on Monday when they re-elected him with 77 per cent of the vote.

Kevin Menicoche celebrated his win with family, friends and supporters in Fort Simpson on Monday night. "I'm honoured," said Menicoche after the final poll came in. The group kept tally the old-fashioned way – with poster paper and a black felt pen. - Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison/NNSL photo

The newly-elected MLA, who was first elected to the legislative assembly in 2003, turns 50 on Friday.

He won every poll in Nahendeh, including 78 per cent of the vote in Nahanni Butte, 62 per cent of the vote in Wrigley, 74 per cent of the vote in Fort Simpson and 84 per cent of the vote in Jean Marie River.

In Fort Liard, he won an astounding 91 per cent and in Trout Lake, 92 per cent.

He also won the special polls with 67 per cent.

"I'm honoured," he said from his campaign headquarters in Fort Simpson after the final tally came in. "I'm ecstatic, humbled and grateful to be elected for a third term."

Menicoche said he intends to make a bid for cabinet and will continue to do what he says got him elected in the first place – be accessible and available to constituents.

"I think they're pleased with my hard work over the past eight years. I know the communities and I know the people," he said.

Menicoche served as a councillor in Fort Simpson and for the Liidlii Kue First Nation before being elected to the legislative assembly in 2003.

During his two terms as MLA, he has served as minister of transportation, minister of the public utilities board, chair of caucus, chair of accountability and the oversight committee and chair of the standing committee on government operations.

"I certainly have the skills to be on cabinet. I'm a consensus builder. I work well with others," he said.

Menicoche said his main focus over the next four years will be on transportation, health, education and housing.

His top priority is to improve the region's roads, which he says will in turn improve local economies, reduce the cost of living and ensure safer travel.

"I hope that my legacy will be to chipseal the highway from the Fort Providence junction to Fort Liard," he said.

He said he will also continue to visit each Nahendeh community three times a year, which he has done since he was first elected eight years ago.

"If there's anything I'll do differently, it's that I'll be a stronger voice in the legislative assembly for the people," he said.

Menicoche added the next term might be marked with tighter budgets, and said he will fight to keep jobs, programs and services in the region.

"Sometimes an MLA's work is not about what you gain, but what you keep," he said.

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