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KIVALLIQ/NUNAVUT - While Nunavut's next legislative assembly will have at least 10 new faces after the territory's third general election this past Monday, the voice of change was strongest in the Kivalliq region.

Each of the three Kivalliq incumbents who ran in Monday's election went down to defeat, with David Simailak falling to Moses Aupaluktuq in Baker Lake, Patterk Netser losing to Johnny Ningeongan in Nanulik and Levinia Brown falling to Lorne Kusugak in Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove.

Having won the Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove riding in the Nunavut election on Oct. 27, MLA-elect Lorne Kusugak is ready to roll up his sleeves the rest of the way and get down to work representing his constituents. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

The lone incumbent outside of Kivalliq to be defeated was Levi Barnabas, who fell to Ron Elliot in Quttiktuq.

Elsewhere in the Kivalliq, Daniel Shewchuk captured the Arviat riding, while Tagak Curley was acclaimed in Rankin Inlet North.

A byelection will be called for Akulliq in the near future.

Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik kept his Iqaluit West riding, defeating Elisapee Sheutiapik 340 to 296.

Other incumbents who kept their seats are Louis Tapardjuk in Amittuq, Keith Petterson in Cambridge Bay (acclaimed), Hunter Tootoo in Iqaluit Centre, James Arvaluk in Tunnuniq and James Arreak in Uqqummiut.

A byelection for South Baffin is set for Nov. 3.

Kusugak said he campaigned hard during his election run.

He said he was focused on winning both Rankin South and Whale Cove.

"Two-thousand eight was an interesting year for me because I started out honestly wanting the Liberal nomination for the federal election," said Kusagak.

"That didn't work out, so I moved on and focused on the Nunavut election.

"I was approached by many people asking me to run in the last Nunavut election, but I couldn't run then.

"The Liberal nomination kind of came up in the middle, but I've been wanting this MLA position for quite awhile now and this year I was ready to go after it."

Kusugak has built a strong municipal record as mayor of Rankin Inlet, and is known as the type of leader who rolls up his sleeves and works hard to get things done.

He said that's what people want to see now in their elected representatives.

He said too many people are out there who look for reasons why they can't get things done.

"I don't want to hear reasons why we can't get things done.

"I want to hear how we can get something done and I'm willing to work the hardest to accomplish that.

"And if at the end of the day we lose a fight, we lick our wounds and start going after the next goal.

"That's the approach I've always had with municipal politics, and that's the approach I plan on taking to represent the people of Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove."

For more on all the Kivalliq winners in Monday's election, please see the Nov. 5 edition of Kivalliq News.