Cr Bill Acklin’s contention two of the mayor’s running mates in 2022 "turned on him immediately after the election" has been disputed by the two councillors concerned.
Cr Andrew Whiley said it was more a case of Mr Radich pursuing his own course while not necessarily taking enough people with him.
"Once elected mayor, the mayor chose to go in a slightly different direction than what was previously understood," he said.
Cr Kevin Gilbert said Mr Radich’s 2022 Team Dunedin campaign ticket was never meant to function as if loyalty would be a key feature in office.
"So to support any person ... blindly or whatever, or just because of an assumed loyalty, I would question whether that’s the right reason to actually be a councillor."
Cr Acklin said Mr Radich was never really allowed a fair go.
Councillors aligned with the previous mayor, Aaron Hawkins, "sprayed their venom far and wide", allies turned on Mr Radich and two more councillors "tried to interfere with the operational part of the council", Cr Acklin wrote in a letter to the ODT.
He rejected suggestions from Cr Whiley the mayor did not do enough to get councillors on board.
Cr Acklin said Mr Radich had been patient in allowing councillors to speak extensively.
"Once an election has happened and the public have voted in a mayor, then of course the mayor has got the right to assign various people to various jobs — I believe that there is a duty of care in terms of respect that councillors really need to show, and that didn’t happen," he said.
Cr Whiley felt some potential went unrealised.
Cr Whiley described early discord in the term.
He and Cr Gilbert were unconvinced by Mr Radich’s political management in looking to revise the George St redevelopment.
The mayor’s proposal ended up getting voted down 9-8 at a committee meeting regarding retaining "flexibility" within the revamp.
Mr Radich’s push to reinstate a groyne at St Clair Beach foundered.
"He wanted to basically force it through without actually having due diligence," Cr Whiley said.
Cr Whiley was also uncomfortable about initial decision-making relating to the treatment of Crs David Benson-Pope and Steve Walker over councillor remuneration, he said.
Cr Acklin said Crs Whiley and Gilbert were certainly included in discussions about George St.
The mayor had his own thoughts about Team Dunedin.
"Cr Acklin and others were there to witness the change of tune from stated Team Dunedin positions," Mr Radich said.
"I am primarily concerned with getting on with the business of council and doing what is best for Dunedin and its future, so I did not make an issue about it at the time or since."
Mr Radich said Crs Walker and Benson-Pope were offered positions that they chose not to accept.
