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DEH CHO
Michael Nadli's win over incumbent MLA and cabinet minister Michael McLeod may very well have been one of the biggest surprises of Monday's territorial election, but there's one person who isn't shocked at all by the result.

"I was in it to win it," said newley-elected Deh Cho MLA Michael Nadli. - NNSL file photo

"I was in it to win it," Nadli said. "I think we had a good team of support and we ensured that we did the work. We pounded the pavement and got out there in the community."

Once the results streamed in Monday night, which showed the former Deh Cho grand chief won 64 per cent of the vote, celebrations began.

"We had a band, there were drum dancers, there were fireworks," he said.

They even started an impromptu parade of vehicles through Fort Providence, where he won 69 per cent of the vote.

Nadli also won Kakisa with 78 per cent, the Hay River Reserve with 53 per cent and in the special polls with 64 per cent.

His only loss was in Enterprise where McLeod garnered an astounding 88 per cent of the vote.

"We kept things positive, kept things strong. I think we sustained momentum and kept up the beat," he said.

He credits his win to getting out and speaking with constituents, but says social media played a key part as well.

Nadli and his team of supporters created a Windows Live Group through MSN and used it to interact with voters.

"People were linking in and keeping themselves informed and getting almost a bird's-eye view of what was going on," he said.

In addition, he said widespread unhappiness with devolution proceedings in Deh Cho was a factor.

Desire for change

"The thing that's really outstanding is the desire for change. That's what was the driving force behind the election. I think people wanted a change of their representation," he said.

"I stated publicly that there is no logic in devolution. It's not well thought out."

McLeod, a three-term MLA, served as minister of public works and services, minister of transportation and minister responsible for infrastructure in the last legislative assembly.

He will continue to serve in these roles until a new cabinet and premier are chosen, most likely by the end of the month.

McLeod could not be reached before press time.

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