Maureen Stephens has won the Yukon NDP nomination to represent the party in Copperbelt in the pending byelection.

The New Democrats held their nomination meeting at the Mt. Mcintyre Recreation Centre Thursday night.

Stephens, a longtime labour and social activist, captured 17 of the 23 votes cast at the meeting.

Former city councillor Samson Hartland and Alyx Jones, a local artist and sculptor, also put their names forward. They each took three votes.

Forty-eight people attended the meeting.

'I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to represent the people of Copperbelt,' Stephens told the Star today.

'I want to work full-time for the people of Copperbelt, because I believe it's time to bring ethical representation back to the legislature.'

NDP Leader Todd Hardy said this morning any of the candidates would have been a great representative for the constituents of Copperbelt.

However, he said the party, and hopefully the riding, 'can't go wrong' by selecting Stephens.

'It's time to get another woman's voice in the legislature,' he said.

Stephens is already organizing her campaign, even though Premier Dennis Fentie has yet to call a byelection for the riding.

Rachael Lewis, a Marsh Lake business person and former Southern Lakes candidate, will act as Stephens' campaign manager.

'I hope to visit every home in Copperbelt in the next month and, if I'm successful, start working for my constituents as soon as possible,' said Stephens.

There is currently a great deal of frustration and resentment toward the Yukon Party, she said, and the riding's residents really want to have representation.

She added she thinks they want someone to be a strong voice for them within the opposition.

Stephens visited many homes in the riding over the past summer.

She previously told the Star it was the urging of Copperbelt residents that made her final decision to run for the party's nomination in the riding.

Stephens ran in the McIntyre-Takhini riding in the 2002 election, but lost to Yukon Party MLA John Edzerza, who now holds the cabinet portfolios of Education and Justice. The loss was by a two per cent margin, or 18 votes.

'I did commit after the last election that I would try again,' she told the Star previously. Copperbelt residents appear to be interested in increasing the number of family doctors, improving health care and social services, she said.

'I'll be reflecting back to them the issues I heard them speak out on over the summer.'

Stephens will focus her campaign on expressing her interest in the areas of creating healthy communities, developing a plan to deal with substance abuse and expanded educational opportunities.

Stephens said she feels very optimistic about the pending campaign and is confident she'll be able to win the riding.

'I've been overwhelmed by the support,' she said, adding she's had several people approach her and say they want to help her to win.

Stephens will likely be running against Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell, but she said that isn't a concern for her.

'I think I'm the better candidate,' she said. 'I think that I have something to offer. That I will be a strong representative. People who know me, know I work very, very hard.'

She has been employed at Yukon College since 1994. She is the past president of the Yukon College Employees Union, a secretary with the Yukon Federal of Labour and a chair of the Public Service Alliance of Canada's Regional Women's Committee.

A resident of Whitehorse for 40 years, Stephens is married to local musician Paul Stephens.

She will take leave from her college job as soon as the byelection is announced.