Alexander Sammurtok takes Rankin Inlet South

Alexander Sammurtokwill be the new MLAfor Rankin Inlet South, after defeatingLorne Kusugakin abyelection Monday.

According to Elections Nunavut, Sammurtokgarnered 268 votes to Kusugak's 225.

The byelection was called after the two candidates tied in the October territorial general election. A recount at the Nunavut Court of Justice confirmed that each candidate received 172 votes.

Sammurtok, 60, has worked for both the Nunavut and Northwest Territoriesgovernments, and was once the mayor of Whale Cove. He says he would like to see a 24-hour care home anda medical boarding home for out-of-town patients in Rankin Inlet.

"Since there's some people coming from the surrounding communities for medical checkup, we need a transient centre in town for them to stay," he said.

The tie and judicial recount meant the constituency did not havean MLA present at the Nunavut leadership forum in November.