The executive director of Newfoundland and Labrador's Liberal party edged out a Stéphane Dion supporter to win a party nomination for the next federal election.

Scott Andrews won the Liberal nomination Wednesday night for Avalon, a largely rural riding that covers the Avalon Peninsula outside St. John's.

Scott Andrews credits ground-floor organizing for his victory for the Liberal nomination in Avalon.
(CBC)

A second-round vote count put Andrews ahead of longtime Liberal activist Norm Whalen, a St. John's lawyer. Candidate Wanda Dawe, who has also worked with the party for many years, placed third.

Whalen, a former provincial party president, organized for Dion in the 2006 federal Liberal leadership campaign.

Andrews, who is also a town councillor in Conception Bay South, said the results have nothing to do with what Liberals think of Dion, who has had a rocky ride as leader.

"This had absolutely nothing to do with Stéphane. This had everything to do with our campaign and working with local Liberals on the ground," Andrews told CBC News Thursday.

"We live in a system where Liberals sign up, and they come out to give you a vote in the nomination, and we just happened to do a better job than the other two candidates."

Andrews said the race was close. Because he did not receive a majority of votes in the first round, the party then moved to counting the second-choice ballots of Dawe's supporters.

Conservative Fabian Manning has represented Avalon since winning the seat in the 2006 federal election.

Liberal John Efford, who retired before that election, had represented the riding since winning a 2002 byelection.

Manning issued a statement Thursday morning congratulating Andrews on his victory, but asking him whether he defends Liberal party policies and statements on issues that included the transfer of a government icebreaker from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland, a proposed carbon tax and equalization.