Two of the best-known politicians in Mount Vernon will be going head-to-head this fall to determine who will run the city for the next four years.

State Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson is set to challenge fellow Democrat Mayor Ernie Davis.

Hassell-Thompson says it's time for Davis to go and that the city is in need of new leadership.

In February, Davis was sentenced to one-year probation and fined $10,000 after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor federal tax evasion charges in October.

When asked if she is planning to run because she believes Davis is vulnerable, Hassell-Thompson says she would have run either way.

For his part, Davis says the choice for voters comes down to experience. He says he has it, and she doesn't.

The mayor says the city is heading in the right direction, and he's the right person to see it through. As for his legal troubles, Davis says he was careless with his personal finances, not the city's, and thinks voters know the difference.

"I made a mistake that I should not have made. I paid the price for it," Davis told News 12.

Hassell-Thompson plans to officially announce her candidacy on Friday. She would still keep her current Senate seat, if she were to lose the race. The Democratic Primary will be held in September.