It was “gut-wrenching” to fall just short of council election after indications of early success, a Dunedin candidate says.<\/p>\n
Progress results from Saturday\u2019s election showed Future Dunedin\u2019s Bruce Ranga taking the 14th and final seat at the Dunedin City Council table.<\/p>\n
However, updated results released late on Sunday night showed Mr Ranga had become the highest-polling unsuccessful candidate.<\/p>\n
“That call [Sunday] night … it was a tough one to go to sleep to,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Pretty gut-wrenching.”<\/p>\n
Mr Ranga said he was initially surprised to have been elected and any success was bittersweet as it appeared only two of Future Dunedin\u2019s seven candidates were elected to council.<\/p>\n
Ticket co-founder Andrew Simms, who unsuccessfully contested the mayoralty, was now the sole ticket member on the council.<\/p>\n
“Obviously, I\u2019d love to have seen all our team get in. That was the goal,” Mr Ranga said.<\/p>\n
He said he accepted the votes had not gone his way, but felt the council\u2019s process for informing candidates needed improvement.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The ensuing uncertainty had affected him, his family and his supporters.<\/p>\n
“I just think people shouldn\u2019t be talked to until they know what\u2019s going on.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“But the updates we provide always comes with the caveat that results are still subject to change,” he said.<\/p>\n
“The chief executive was also clear about this in her communication with Mr Ranga over the weekend.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Mr Ranga said regardless of the outcome, he had moved on and held his mana intact.<\/p>\n
“It has certainly been a roller-coaster ride for myself, wh\u0101nau and supporters to the point I am still being congratulated by lovely people I don\u2019t even know.”<\/p>\n
He said it was too soon to focus on any future political aspirations.<\/p>\n
“I\u2019ll just be continuing to do something that supports community and supports people, especially those in need”<\/p>\n
Official election results results are expected tomorrow.<\/p>\n