The gloves are off between Saskatoon’s two most high-profile mayoral candidates.

Don Atchison and Charlie Clark are in a war of words after Clark attacked Atchison’s leadership Tuesday.

According to Clark, Atchison has failed in his leadership on issues like crime, racism and Meewasin Valley Authority funding.

“Civic leadership is about taking responsibility,” Clark said. “In many instances, Atchison’s pattern has been to dodge responsibility and avoid accountability.”

Clark called out Atchison’s approach to crime, alleging the mayor dismissed statistics in 2009, 2015 and 2016 highlighting Saskatoon’s high crime rate. He said Atchison attributed the rates to Saskatoon residents simply reporting more crime — a claim Clark describes as dubious.

He also challenged comments from Atchison last year regarding a MacLean’s magazine article looking at racism in Canada. According to Clark, Atchison dismissed Saskatoon’s issues with racism following the article’s release.

Clark also alleged Atchison did not fight hard enough after the province cut funding for the Meewasin Valley Authority.

Atchison, who responded Wednesday, hit back hard at Clark.

“I’m so tired of candidates stating false claims and giving the public numbers and statistics that are just not true,” Atchison said.

He pointed to money he’s raised for the Meewasin trail through the Mayor’s Marathon and said he understands the mayor often needs to take the brunt of the blame for certain issues.

"I think in a lot of cases, strong leadership means that you have to stand up there, and you have to take a pounding, regardless if you think it's right, wrong or indifferent,” Atchison said. “But today we're in election mode, and I believe that I need to be able to defend myself, too.”

Atchison was leading Clark 29 to 24 per cent in Mainstreet/Postmedia’s most recent poll, with candidate Kelley Moore trailing in third with 18 per cent support. Newcomer Devon Hein had yet to announce his candidacy as of the poll’s release.

Saskatoon’s civic election is set for Oct. 26.