Progress results from Saturday’s election showed Future Dunedin’s Bruce Ranga taking the 14th and final seat at the Dunedin City Council table.
However, updated results released late on Sunday night showed Mr Ranga had become the highest-polling unsuccessful candidate.
"Pretty gut-wrenching."
Mr Ranga said he was initially surprised to have been elected and any success was bittersweet as it appeared only two of Future Dunedin’s seven candidates were elected to council.
Ticket co-founder Andrew Simms, who unsuccessfully contested the mayoralty, was now the sole ticket member on the council.
"Obviously, I’d love to have seen all our team get in. That was the goal," Mr Ranga said.
He said he accepted the votes had not gone his way, but felt the council’s process for informing candidates needed improvement.
A phone call he described as congratulatory from council chief executive Sandy Graham on Saturday afternoon gave him the impression his spot on council was secure, Mr Ranga said.
The ensuing uncertainty had affected him, his family and his supporters.
"I just think people shouldn’t be talked to until they know what’s going on."
A council spokesman said Ms Graham rang all candidates who were elected based on progress results and who often wanted news as soon as possible.
"But the updates we provide always comes with the caveat that results are still subject to change," he said.
"The chief executive was also clear about this in her communication with Mr Ranga over the weekend."
The council stood by the efforts of staff and election contractor over the weekend to process, dispatch and count the 9400 voting papers received on Saturday morning.
Mr Ranga said regardless of the outcome, he had moved on and held his mana intact.
"It has certainly been a roller-coaster ride for myself, whānau and supporters to the point I am still being congratulated by lovely people I don’t even know."
He said it was too soon to focus on any future political aspirations.
"I’ll just be continuing to do something that supports community and supports people, especially those in need"
Official election results results are expected tomorrow.
