Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt last night failed in an attempt to remove his deputy.
Mr Shadbolt said after an Invercargill City Council meeting he had lost faith in deputy mayor Neil Boniface over his handling of an incident involving chief executive Richard King.
Mr King was caught drink-driving in September, but Mr Shadbolt said he was not informed by his deputy for three days.
"I looked like an idiot when reporters called me about it."
Mr Shadbolt alleges Mr Boniface, in his capacity as acting mayor, signed documents relating to the crash, yet in a closed meeting to discuss Mr King's future, councillors were given unsigned documents.
The subsequent vote, which allowed Mr King to keep his job, caused a rift among councillors.
Mr Shadbolt said Mr Boniface also contacted him while he was overseas, asking him to rewrite a newspaper column, critical of the council communication manager.
He asked Cr Geoff Piercy to be deputy. When he agreed, he told Mr Boniface he wanted him replaced.
However, Mr Piercy declined the position at last night's meeting. Mr Shadbolt said he had "no confidence" in his deputy, and moved the council discuss the issue in 14 days' time.
Mr Boniface did not return calls yesterday.
