Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas delivered his first State of the City address Thursday night.

During the address, delivered in a packed room at Rebecca Turner Elementary School, Thomas made a plea to his fellow elected officials and residents to help him turn around the city, saying his No. 1 priority is quality of life.

By some accounts, Thomas has had a rough start. Since taking office, one of his brothers was arrested for alleged domestic violence and another pleaded guilty to federal gun charges.

Thomas clashed with the Mount Vernon City Council over issues ranging from the staffing levels of firefighters to the demolition of an abandoned home. He also changed the locks of the City Hall building without telling council members.

Thomas says he hopes the speech will renew his fractured relationship with City Council, but only one of the five council member showed up to the address.