A man who waited two years to become chairman of a parish council had his desire thwarted at the last minute by a new intake of councillors.
John Brock said his "integrity" had been "questioned" as he was passed over for the chairman's post on Feock Parish Council.
The firmly-established convention at Feock was that Mr Brock, as vice chairman would take charge of the council after two years of Sue Felton in the role of chairman.
But a new batch of councillors elected on May 2 voted to overthrow convention and install one of their own as the leader of the council.
Mr Brock was visibly furious as the vote went against him and new councillor Mike Kemp was installed as the new chairman.
When nominated for the post of vice chairman, Mr Brock, who had previously been chairman from 2001-2003, refused to stand.
He said: "I have found my integrity questioned by people who do not know me or have never spoken to me and I find it contemptible."
"I would find it impossible to have a working relationship."
Mr Brock then referred to e-mails that have been circulated but did not elaborate on the contents of the e-mails.
Rob Andrew, who is assistant head of service for localism, devolution and green communities at Cornwall Council, was elected as vice chairman.
At the parish council elections 11 candidates stood under the banner of the New Parish Partnership (NPP) which said it wanted a change from the established order within Feock.
The elections saw eight NPP candidates elected in one of the most hotly-fought parish councils in the county.
New chairman Mr Kemp, from the New Parish Partnership, said he did not understand what had prompted Mr Brock's comments.
Following the meeting he said: "I didn't hear anyone at the meeting make any derogatory comments whatsoever. He made some reference to e-mails and I'm not aware of anything there either. I have never done anything to impugn his integrity."
Mr Kemp said it had been necessary to break with tradition regarding the usual .
He said: "That is the way it's been operating there for a long time because it's been a closed circle and the same people re-appointed. We are not bound by the conventions that have developed.
"We were elected on campaign policies and it would be impossible to make changes if the previous vice chairman had become chairman because he didn't campaign for the things we campaigned for."
