Former cabinet minister John Edzerza has convincingly won the nod of the NDP to represent the party in McIntyre-Takhini for the upcoming general election.

'I will work my butt off to win this riding in the next election and I'm going to work very hard now until the election day is over to make sure that the NDP party forms the next government,' Edzerza told the crowd following Saturday's 37-14 vote.

Rachael Lewis, who has previously run in two elections and managed other campaigns, ran against the former Education and Justice minister.

Edzerza left the Yukon Party earlier this month after having declared during the winter he intended to be a 'free agent' come the election Premier Dennis Fentie must call by November.

The first-time MLA has held independent status since his departure from the government caucus, an NDP policy for any elected individual seeking its nomination.

Edzerza said he sold more than 50 memberships to the party leading up to the nomination meeting. Lewis did not say how many people she had signed on to the NDP in the riding.

However, prior to the contested nomination, there were 10 registered NDP members in McIntyre-Takhini. There were 94 individuals eligible to vote by Saturday's vote at the Canada Games Centre. Fifty-one voters cast ballots.

'We had to go out and basically work the riding to get the people in the riding to select their candidate,' said Edzerza.

'For a lot of people, it was a bit of an unfamiliar process,' Lewis said of canvassing the riding for the nomination. 'It was a bit of a learning curve for them to understand how the political process works.'

Lewis placed her unanimous support behind Edzerza following his win. She will not be putting her name forward in another riding, though she intends to work behind-the-scenes for the NDP during the campaign.

During his speech to the approximately 20 in attendance at the nomination meeting, Edzerza told the room his personal convictions fit strongly with the NDP agenda.

'I am the kind of the person who speaks from the heart,' he said, adding he is drawn to the focus the party puts on the social side of the ledger.

'I've been told by several people I didn't fit anywhere else but the NDP party. I do really support and try to make things better for the little guy,' he said, labelling himself as an advocate.

The 58-year-old has previously worked on the Elijah Smith Elementary School council, the Yukon Advisory Committee on Indian Child Welfare, the board of directors for Northern Network of Services for Youth at Risk and the Kwanlin Dun First Nation justice committee.

Prior to being elected to territorial government, he served under four administrations of the Kwanlin Dun chief and council.

Edzerza was first elected to the legislature under the Yukon Party banner in the 2002 election, taking 32 per cent of the vote. It was a narrow victory, with only 18 ballots separating him and NDP candidate Maureen Stephens.

The incumbent MLA said on a territorial level, if re-elected, he hopes to continue to address corrections, education, child welfare and climate change.

More specifically focused on the riding, Edzerza said it's important to ensure Takhini Elementary School remains open, day care facilities are available for families, the extension of Hamilton Boulevard to Robert Service Way is completed, the review of the Child Welfare Act is finished and the political will is there to move forward on addressing the needs of the Whitehorse Correctional Centre.

'I will do the very best I can, because that's all I can do my best,' said Edzerza.

He had several people approach him following his resignation from the Yukon Party offering to help and asking how to help him secure the NDP's nomination, he said. He already has 12 people ready to work on his campaign.

Ed Schultz, a former Council of Yukon First Nations grand chief and Liberal leadership contender, has put his name forward for the Liberals in the riding. The nomination meeting has not yet been held.

The Yukon Party has not yet announced who will be running in McIntyre-Takhini.

'It doesn't matter who's running. Parties are going to have somebody. I have my work cut out and I'll do it,' said Edzerza.

'I never was one to make predictions of being successful at anything. I like to wait until the end of the day and then you know for sure.'