Yellowknife (Apr 18/05) - North Slave MLA Henry Zoe could face an uphill battle to keep his seat in the legislative assembly following his conviction last week for resisting arrest.

Premier Joe Handley called the incident "sad" and said several of his legislative counterparts have questions for Zoe.

Henry Zoe: Could lose seat in legislature after resisting arrest conviction.

But Handley cautioned it was premature to discuss whether the former cabinet minister should be removed from the assembly.

"I hope Mister Zoe can get his life in order," Handley said Friday.

"When you are out of control in a private residence and someone has to call police - that should not happen."

Zoe was convicted of resisting arrest, Tuesday in a Yellowknife courtroom, and fined $700.

According to testimony during his March trial, a moderately intoxicated Zoe struggled with police when they responded to a domestic disturbance complaint at his Yellowknife home.

It took three officers to handcuff Zoe, who slipped down a flight of stairs while being escorted from the house and knocked his face on a parked vehicle.

"Your position as a member of the legislative assembly places you in the public eye," said Territorial Court Chief Judge Brian Bruser, who presided over the case.

"As a public figure you are expected to be a role model."

The political future of the three-time MLA now appears to rest in the hands of his counterparts in the legislative assembly, who could propose a motion seeking his dismissal.

Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins said Zoe should be given an opportunity to appeal the sentence before his expulsion is discussed.

"I'm a firm believer in the integrity of the system," Hawkins said.

"I want to give Henry every benefit of the doubt to appeal."

Handley echoed those comments, saying there was "not much interest" among his fellow MLAs to discuss the issue until the appeal period expires.

After that time, Handley said members would "certainly" have questions for Zoe.

Zoe quickly bypassed reporters following his conviction and refused to answer questions about his future.

His lawyer, Margo Nightingale, was not available Friday afternoon to comment on the possibility of an appeal.

Members of the assembly will be forced to consider whether they should address the Zoe conviction or wait until his constituents head to the polls in the 2007 territorial election.

Former North Slave MLA Leon Lafferty - who lost his seat to Zoe in the 2003 election - said the assembly should decide the issue themselves.

"I think the assembly as a whole is responsible to the people," Lafferty said from Rae.

"They should have a say about who they work with."

The conviction for resisting arrest was Zoe's fifth since the late 1970s. His criminal record includes theft, assault, assault with a weapon and impaired driving.

Zoe's latest legal troubles seem to have eroded some of his support in the North Slave riding. Gameti's Louisa Wetrade said Zoe should be expelled from the assembly.

"I'm disappointed," she said Friday.

Zoe, a former Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, lost his cabinet portfolio last summer after he reportedly made an inappropriate comment about Newfoundlanders during a talent show at the Royal Canadian Legion in Yellowknife.

Handley said the Zoe conviction, which comes on the heels of a four-month jail sentence for former MLA and justice minister Roger Allen, will affect the public perception of elected officials.

"There are higher expectations for politicians. We are on duty 24 hours a day," he said

"It is disappointing to see leaders caught up in this. It is unfortunate... that people do not have control over their lives and cannot fulfill expectations," the premier said.