Election results challenged.

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The newly-elected president of the Metis Nation of Alberta Society might be

on shaky ground following allegations of voting irregularities during his election.

The results that gave Gerald Thom presidency are being challenged four members of the Metis Nation who ran against him in the September vote. Several zone vice-presidents are also having their election deferred for a decision with the Metis Nation's senate.

Thom became interim president after the death of Larry Desmeules this spring.

He was declared winner of the presidential race after a recount pegged votes at 880 rather than the initial 907 counted.

But presidential candidates, Cindy Desmeules-Bertolin, Ron Brady, Fred House, and Laurent Roy have filed a joint complaint to the Metis senate about the counts. They want the senate to appoint four trustees to handle the presidential duties until a ruling is made. Zone 4 candidate Garry Gairdner has also joined the challengers.

Desmeules-Bertolin was second in placing after Thom, receiving 668 votes during the first count. She is the daughter of deceased president Larry Desmeules.

Zone 1 results have also been declared incomplete Returning Officer John Sinclair because of voting irregularities. Thom was senior vice-president representing Zone 1, the Lac La Biche area.

Sinclair told the media discrepancies in Zone 1 voting were too large to ignore. He has asked the Metis senate for a decision.

There are 5,100 members in the Metis Nation of Alberta Society. Other election results include new vice-presidents Cliff Gladue in Zone 2, Jim Penton in Zone 3, Lyle Donald for Zone 4, and Peer Campion in Zone 5.