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Lee Vandervis is blaming "ugly personal attacks'' and a lack of real debate for his mayoral loss.
Councillor Vandervis told the Otago Daily Times he knew the race was always going to be close, but his loss to Green Party candidate Aaron Hawkins was "quite disappointing''.
He was not surprised by the result, but was surprised by "the level of personal untruths that have been levelled throughout''.
He blamed the media for "a lack of debate around really important issues'', such as council debt and the new Dunedin Hospital site.
He had not called new Cr Hawkins yet as he did not have his phone number, but he would be calling to congratulate him once he tracked it down, he said.
"Aaron's the party political candidate, and he's done very well at it.''
He was planning to go out for dinner with his campaign manager, and watch The Chills perform at the Vogel Street Party.
"You've got to keep moving, always looking forward.''