Due to brief confusion on the Elections Nunavut website, Simeon Mikkungwak initially thought he lost his Baker Lake seat to Karen Kabloona, but he held off her charge by a 389-280 count.
“What’s going on?” he asked as he took another look at the results on Monday night. “The way it was showing on the internet, it was saying that Karen won, but I got re-elected. It was kind of confusing.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, Mikkungwak said he will advocate for a new health centre in Baker Lake.
He is also open to taking a cabinet portfolio, particularly Economic Development and Transportation.
“I’ve got experience there with an operating gold mine (Agnico Eagle’s Meadowbank mine). Actually, I was there at the table for the community when the gold mine was going to open, as an advocate on behalf of the community.”
Mikkungwak also mentioned his respect for Kabloona as a political opponent. He said he’s “always tried to treat the Baker Lake people equally,” he’s bilingual and he has experience in the legislative assembly, which may have played in his favour in the campaign, he suggested.
“I’ve always tried to keep the general public informed too, after any meetings I attend,” he said.
