Ruthven Allimrac said he believed the people of Dunedin would respect someone who listened to them and acknowledged their struggles "no matter what they look like".
Vampires were citizens too and every corner of society was dealing with issues such as affordability and climate change.
"If the climate scientists are correct and we’re looking at the possible extinction of the species — there goes our food source."
Mr Allimrac, who is running for mayor under the "human guise" of 26-year-old caregiver and Climate Liberation Aotearoa member Zenith Rose-Wills, said honesty towards acknowledging and confronting issues was what he could bring to the council table.
Born in Florida, he was turned into a vampire in the 18th century and later moved to Dunedin.
Issues he was focused on included rising rental prices, the housing crisis, climate change and the oppression of marginalised groups.
Not many vampires had roles in local government.
Turning into a bat did not help much with managing the city and hypnosis "crosses consent boundaries for me", he said.
It was a misconception that it was deadly for vampires to go out in the sunlight — it was "just uncomfortable".
"I’m able to go out in the sun, I’m able to talk to people.
"I drink [blood] only with active and informed consent, so I see myself as having a pretty healthy relationship with the people of Otepoti."
Mr Rose-Wills said the character had been intended just for the election campaign, but could make future appearances for other reasons.
Mr Allimrac joins Flynn "Nisvett" Nisbett, of the Aotearoa New Zealand Silly Hat Party, who is also running for Dunedin mayor and Andrew Clark, the brother of incumbent Invercargill mayor Nobby Clark, who is running for mayor in Invercargill and mayor in Nelson under another name, as one of the more colourful characters in the southern election field.
