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By CRAIG BABSTOCK
Canadaeast News Service

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Dominic LeBlanc was re-elected to represent the Beausejour riding for the fourth consecutive time Tuesday night.

LeBlanc, surrounded by jubilant supporters at his victory celebration in Shediac, chuckled at the thought he's quickly moving up the seniority ranks of the Liberals.

"I'm only 40 years old," he responded. "To be a veteran at 40 years old is quite something."

LeBlanc is a couple of months shy of his 41st birthday, but he's already spent eight years in Parliament, was recently critic for justice and intergovernmental affairs for the Liberal party, and is also vice-chair of the Liberals' policy and platform committee.

His party may be looking for a new leader before the next federal election, but when asked if he harbours any leadership ambitions, LeBlanc won't speculate on his future.

"Tonight's not the night to worry about that," he said. "I'm worried about the work I have to do as the member of Parliament as part of the Liberal team, to deal with the serious economic issues the country's facing.

"My only ambition is to work hard as a member of the Liberal team and to work hard for the people that tonight have given me the chance to represent them in the next Parliament. There will be plenty of time to worry about those other things at some other time."

Chris Durrant, who came in third representing the NDP in Beausejour, said he heard plenty of rumours during the campaign that LeBlanc has his eyes on the Liberal leadership.

"Dominic is a formidable opponent and I've heard the rumours about him running for the leadership of the Liberal party," said Durrant, a 21-year-old Mount Allison University student. "I suspect there's some truth to those rumours."

When asked what role he thought he would play with the Liberals, LeBlanc said that decision isn't up to him.

"I'll live that up to Mr. Dion," he said. "The only role I'm worried about tonight is working for the people in my riding in the next Parliament."

LeBlanc said the most important thing for the Canadian government to do is tackle the "economic preoccupations" of Canadians.

"We need to get to work at this tomorrow," he said.