Mesheau was elected in a tight three-way race to represent Tantramar in a by-election in 1997 to replace Marilyn Trenholme Counsell who had resigned to become Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick.
The leader of the Confederation of Regions Party, Greg Hargrove, was running as a parachute candidate and finished a distant fourth and last place with 2.5%.
The Progressive Conservatives won the 1999 provincial election and Mesheau was named to the cabinet as Minister of Economic Development, Tourism and Culture.
Later in 2006, Mesheau became a part of a media frenzy when it was learned that he had found a job in the private sector and intended to resign his seat in the legislature.
His resignation would create a minority government and Lord said he would call an election - 13 months earlier than scheduled - rather than face a hung parliament.