Davis, Thomas trade accusations ahead of Mt. Vernon primary

With just two days to go until the Mount Vernon mayoral election, two candidates are accusing each other of thuggery and defacing campaign signs. Mayor Ernie Davis held a hastily scheduled news conference

News 12 Staff

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Sep 9, 2015, 1:03 AM

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Updated 3,396 days ago

With just two days to go until the Mount Vernon mayoral election, two candidates are accusing each other of thuggery and defacing campaign signs.

Mayor Ernie Davis held a hastily scheduled news conference Tuesday on the steps of City Hall with seemingly one topic on the agenda: blasting Councilman Richard Thomas.

"His brand of politics is one that is at best 'suspect,'" Davis said.

The mayor accused Thomas of "thuggery," saying that his brother physically attacked one of Davis' campaign workers.

He also accused Thomas of making racist statements about blacks and Italians.

Tuesday's accusations come on the heels of an ugly scene Saturday, as supporters of Davis crashed an event during which Thomas received an endorsement from the Mount Vernon Police Benevolent Association.

"If you want to be mayor of this city, you should be an example of what you espouse," Davis said.

Thomas said that if anyone should be accused of thuggery, it's Davis.

"His whole political operation is about intimidation," he said. "We can't be tricked into believing that this is part and parcel."