Omaha, NE.- Charges and counter charges today in the Mayor's race.

Jim Vokal all but accusing Hal Daub of being in the pocket of the police union.

Daub's campaign want to know if Vokal is kidding. He's not.

One of the key issues in the race is police and fire pensions, specifically the practice of "spiking": boosting pensions to make more in retirement than police and firefighters made while working.

After filing the official paperwork to get his name on the ballot, Vokal today claimed that Daub and the police union are working hand in hand; that Daub will soon get the police union's endorsement and money making Daub less than objective when he sits across the bargaining table from the police union.

"I think its hard to state that you're the best guy to negotiate and take on the police union when you have their endorsement."

Brinker Harding, Daub's campaign manager insists its Vokal who's already cut a deal with the firefighters union.

On January 7th, in a letter obtained by Action 3 News, Vokal wrote that he has "...an understanding and agreement on those issues important to the (fire) membership."

According to Harding, "To me that says he's already struck his deal with the union leadership."

The fire union has said it won't endorse anyone until after the Primary, and Vokal says, "I'm just fine going into the primary without having the influence of any union endorsement." Vokal says he doesn't know what would happen if the fire union backs him after the primary. Vokal indicating he might not accept the endorsement.

The Daub campaign isn't saying what it will do if the police union endorses Daub.

Reported by Joe Jordan, joe@action3news.com