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.''
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Do the words Kettle, Pot and Black mean anything to you Lee?
Same old, same old. Someone elses fault, never his.
The result shows that the public knew were the personal issues were coming from.
Where there is smoke there is fire, fits Vandervis like a glove.
The public has spoken!
Can't even lose gracefully. It's always someone else's fault. Dunedin dodged a bullet for sure.
Can't figure out a parking meter, then makes more of a fool of himself complaining that it was someones elses fault....
He'll be 67 years old at the next election, so hopefully that was his last shot at being mayor.
Vandervis is right; deliberate smear campaign against him despite no evidence of any allegations held by the Council and put forward by the print Media.