Steve Baron called Whanganui district councillors flippant, dismissive and disrespectful while delivering his petition asking them to consider a change of voting system.
The 30-signature petition asks the council to initiate a referendum on whether it is elected using the current first past the post (FPP) system, or single transferable vote (STV).
"It's not just an ordinary petition," Mr Baron told councillors on Tuesday. "It's a petition signed by the leaders in this community. People who give serious thought to what happens here."
Mr Baron, who stood unsuccessfully for council last year, was unequivocal STV was the fairer system.
FPP, in which candidates who receive the most votes are elected, resulted in wasted votes when candidates gained more than they needed to win, he said.
Under STV voters rank candidates in order or preference. As soon as a candidate has enough first preference votes to be elected their excess votes are transferred to voters' second preference and so on.
Mr Baron said STV produced more "generally preferred councillors and a more representative council".
It would also bring the council in line with the Whanganui District Health Board, which uses STV to elect its members, and reduce confusion.
"It's an opinion built on years of studying electoral systems at university. How we elect our mayor and councillors is important," Mr Baron said.
"Frankly I was appalled by the attitude of some of you when I approached you about changing the system."
Councillor Alan Taylor said a review of the representation structure of council was needed before the voting system was looked at because getting rid of wards had been a mistake.
"You've got to have the right representation before you decide how you are going to elect people," Mr Taylor said.
Mayor Hamish McDouall said the petition needed to be considered - "It behoves us to try and improve democracy.
"While I take Mr Baron's comments at face value about the flippancy with which he's been treated ... it is important to make sure we have the most appropriate representation.
"What I'll need to make an assessment is good data and good evidence."
A report considering the electoral system for the 2019 election will be brought back to council in June.