Appeal launched over Nickel Belt Liberal nomination

One of the three losing candidates in last weekend's Nickel Belt Liberal nomination vote is contesting the results that saw Marc Serré win on the third ballot.

Riding president Dan Gingras confirmed Thursday an appeal was underway, but said he couldn't offer details because it was being handled by the party's executive in Ottawa.

“We've been told not to comment on the process because (they're) handling it,” Gingras said.

The party executive didn't immediately return a message Thursday.

Sources have told NorthernLife.ca, however, the appeal centres on 29 ballots that were declared spoiled, out of 1,009 that were cast. While detailed voting results weren't released, it was a tight three-way race until the final ballot, when Serré pulled ahead.

Unless his win is overturned, Serré defeated three candidates -- Pablo Gil-Alfau, Jim Belanger and Gerry Guimond.

Gingras said he couldn't reveal which candidate launched the appeal, and neither Serré or any of the other candidates immediately returned messages seeking comment.

Serré was born in Chelmsford and his father, Gaetan, held the seat for the Liberals from 1968-1972. The federal election is scheduled for Oct. 19, although the prime minister could trigger it sooner. The NDP's Claude Gravelle has held the federal Nickel Belt seat since 2008, after the Liberals' Ray Bonin retired.