A Mount Vernon mayoral candidate is publicly denouncing gun violence a day after a shooting occurred outside his campaign office.

City Councilman and mayoral hopeful Richard Thomas blames city mismanagement for ongoing gun violence in the community, including Friday's shooting on South Fourth Avenue that sent one man to the hospital. It happened just feet from the front door of the councilman's office.

"We definitely need to make sure that our cops are walking the beat and available and accessible to our constituents, and they have a relationship with the community, " Thomas says.

Meanwhile, Mayor Ernie Davis, while attending the city's Fourth of July celebrations on Saturday, called Thomas' comments a campaign ploy.

"It's not a time for this," Davis said. "This is serious. We have to make sure people's lives are protected and take the people who would do this harm off the streets."

Police have not released specifics of their ongoing investigation into Friday's shooting.

There's still no official word on the condition of the male victim, but News 12 is told that he is expected to recover.