Mayoral candidate Liz McMillan says she was surprised by a rival’s flip-flopping declaration that she would be his deputy.

Jeff Ryan declared at the meet the candidates meeting in Methven last week that if he was elected Ashburton’s next mayor, he would name McMillan as his deputy.

McMillan, currently deputy to Mayor Neil Brown, said it came as a big surprise as she had only met Ryan once before the event.

“My goal is to be the next mayor, not the deputy.”

Ryan acknowledged he had shocked Liz with that announcement, and she "didn’t take it favourably”.

“But the offer is on the table, take it or leave it, and I think I have a good chance of winning,” Ryan said.

He explained the impromptu announcement was because he felt McMillan's experience would benefit him as a newcomer to council.

Ryan is up against two three-term councillors, McMillan and Russell Ellis, and first-term councillor Rob Mackle.

McMillan’s surprise reaction was also due to Ryan’s previous social media commentary that she was aware of but declined to comment on.

When McMillan announced she would seek the mayoralty on March 20, Ryan responded on the Ashburton Guardian’s Facebook page initially congratulating her for the decision. He then posted a follow up comment after attending the April 2 council meeting.

“I can safely say Liz McMillan will not be part of the team I will be bringing in after October’s election.”

Then when Russel Ellis announced he would stand for mayor in June, Ryan was again in the comments section on Facebook.

“Finally a candidate with all attributes of a great mayor and leader. Should I not win, I would gladly work tirelessly for you. Liz I think would struggle as the sheriff. Rob can’t have the lowest attendance record on council and think he had the right to put his name in the hat,” Ryan wrote.

Ryan said this week he regretted posting those comments.

“Initially I was a little bit out there with some of the things I was saying.

“I’ve learnt a lot in the last few months, that I have to pull my head in and be a better team player.”

The four mayoral candidates, and the Ashburton Ward candidates, will front the public at a meet the candidate’s event on Wednesday (August 27) at 7pm at the Ashburton College Auditorium.

-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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