Mr Lequeux, who stood unsuccessfully for mayor in 2007 and 2010, said yesterday he would not stand again after securing just 503 votes this time.
Mr Lequeux could not resist having one final jab at Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull and his new council, claiming low voter turnout in the city meant those elected lacked a mandate.
''They should just make sure they run the business in a very tight way ... because obviously people feel totally disenfranchised and have got no trust, no faith, in their politicians.''
Mr Lequeux's comments came after Mr Cull scored an overwhelming victory on Saturday, receiving 18,446 votes, more than 12,000 ahead of nearest rivals Hilary Calvert (6429 votes) and Cr Lee Vandervis (5841).
Mr Lequeux claimed the results showed people who did not bother to vote had been turned off by Mr Cull, and he denied non-voters could include supporters of Mr Cull.
Mr Cull rejected that yesterday, saying ''you would have to assume'' some non-voters would support him if they did vote, perhaps in the same proportion as those who did have their say.
Another repeat mayoral campaigner, Kevin Dwyer, said he would also ''probably not'' stand again, after attracting 217 votes in his second attempt at high office.
He said campaigning favoured those with the biggest budgets, but he expected the new green-leaning council would be troubled.
''It's sort of not business-friendly ... I don't think it's going to be a very progressive council,'' he said.
Pete George, who received 779 votes, said he could not say what he might do in three years' time, but he was ''not particularly surprised'' by Saturday's results.
They reflected name recognition and the fact there was no strong desire for change among voters, he believed, but Mr Cull and his councillors had a clear mandate from voters.
''It's not a strong mandate from the public generally, because the numbers were pretty appalling really in the overall turnout.''
Steve McGregor, the lowest-polling mayoral contender with just 178 votes, said he was happy with his result, after running only a limited campaign, and would consider another bid ''if the council don't take on board my ideas''.
