Omaha, NE.- The Mayor's race hit the New Year running today.

Two top candidates are flexing their anti-crime muscles, and swinging at each other.

While former Mayor Hal Daub was talking up his new crime plan, which includes an anti-gang czar, City Councilman Jim Vokal claimed deadly crime under Daub was worse than it is now.

Both agree that with more murders in Omaha last year than any year in over a decade, crime is the number one issue in the race.

According to Daub what's needed is, "Nothing less than a get tough all out war on violent crime."

But Vokal claims Daub is more talk than action. Vokal says during Daub's six and a half years in office there were 226 murders, compared to 205 during the last six years.

But Daub tells Action 3 News, "The murder rate dropped 24 per cent while I was Mayor and that's a fact."

Asked if his campaign was playing fast and loose with the numbers Vokal said, "Well the totals are the totals and I'm not going necessarily to get into going back and forth."

But during Daub's anti crime news conference Vokal's campaign manager, Jordan McGraine showed up.

He wasn't invited, but Daub's campaign let him stay.

Asked if he was bothered by McGraine's appearance Daub told Action 3 News, "I don't place any significance on that but you might."

As for Daub's new crime plan, it contains seven main points including a new anti-crime czar. Daub says he wants to appoint a Hometown Security Commissioner who will fight the city's gang problem.

Daub is also calling for more police on the streets and use of federal anti-racketeering laws to get the gangs out of Omaha.

Vokal's crime fighting message hits t-v tomorrow, the first commericials of the campaign.

Reported by Joe Jordan, joe@action3news.com