It is with a mixture of surprise and disappointment that five incumbents leave the Dunedin City Council table after failing to be re-elected.
Preliminary results late last night showed Andrew Whiley, Carmen Houlahan, Bill Acklin, Jim O’Malley and Kevin Gilbert had not made it back on to the council.
The results also had Andrew Simms (Future Dunedin), John Chambers, Russell Lund, Benedict Ong, Doug Hall and Mickey Treadwell (Greens) as six new faces around the council table.
Saturday’s progress results had shown Future Dunedin’s Bruce Ranga as entering council, however he was replaced by Mr Treadwell last night.
The Otago Daily Times spoke to the unsuccessful councillors on Saturday afternoon.
Mr Whiley, a four-term councillor, said the results were "extremely interesting" and he could not "make head or tail of what the community wanted based on who was elected".
The city council has 14 councillor positions — progress results had Mr Whiley sitting at 16.
"I thought I had a good shot of being back in council. I’ve worked hard, I’ve delivered ... so to be just outside is sort of frustrating," he said.
Mr Whiley had hoped the preliminary results would return him to council but his exit was confirmed last night.
"If this is the end, I’m pretty happy and proud of what I’ve done over the last 12 years."
Mr Acklin said Saturday’s results were significant and voters had shown a desire for "huge change".
He was elected in 2022, having previously served on the council from 2004 to 2013, and was disappointed not to return to the council.
"I thought that I was doing the right thing in terms of keeping rates as low as possible and holding back from spending huge capital expenditure on things that we could actually hold fire on," he said.
"Looking at the outcome in terms of the voter, it doesn’t seem to be the case.
"I suppose standing for election is a bit like entering a talent quest. You either win or you lose."
One-term councillor Mr Gilbert said he was disappointed not be re-elected, surprised by several of the councillor results but "ecstatic that Dunedin has chosen Sophie [Barker] as their mayor".
In a statement, Mrs Houlahan said it had been an "absolute pleasure and privilege" to serve two terms on the council.
"It’s also been a privilege to serve with outgoing mayor Jules Radich and other councillors. My thoughts are with the other four councillors who also lost their seat around the table."
She wished Ms Barker well.
Dr O’Malley was unable to be reached for comment.
Long-serving councillor David Benson-Pope did not stand for re-election.
