COHOES - Education, public safety and the Cohoes Community Center were issues touched upon at Wednesday's tense — and at times personal — mayoral debate.

But the main topic was whether incumbent Shawn Morse is fit to run the city and how the mayor's character reflects upon the city.

"I never imagined that I would be running for mayor, but Cohoes has been in the news for all the wrong reasons the last two years, and I can no longer sit on the sidelines," said former State Police major William Keeler, one of four Democrats competing in the June 25 primary. "I love Cohoes too much. I'm running to restore honor and integrity."

Morse, Keeler, Councilman Steve Napier and former city treasurer Peter Frangie offered their views before a few hundred people in a debate that included pre-selected audience questions and queries from host John Gray, a WTEN-TV news anchor.

But what kept coming up was the mayor himself.

Morse faces a seven-count federal felony indictment that alleges he conspired with his former campaign treasurer to use political donations for personal expenditures, including vacations and home repairs.

Over the last two years Morse has also faced domestic abuse allegations. Morse has not faced criminal charges related to those claims. And in a recently unearthed email attributed to Brenda Morse, the mayor's wife, she allegedly took back abuse allegations she made, attributing them to substance abuse and a custody battle.

Morse has also faced, and denied, abuse allegations from another woman, the mother of his son.

Democrats including Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan have called for Morse's resignation.

"The reality is I will work tirelessly for you. I know there have been a lot of things said about Shawn Morse," Morse said. "I would ask you to do this, believe what you believe, see what you see -- know that I will work harder than anyone else. I will make you Cohoes Proud."

Here's footage the forum posted on YouTube by Harold Felt:

Keeler was the most outspoken candidate against the mayor.

"I'm embarrassed by all of these allegations and I think the mayor should step aside, but he hasn't stepped aside," Keeler said. "He does have to go, but it's up to you folks to decide that. The Capital District is looking at us. Children are looking. Is this mayor the role model for our children?"

Morse responded, "My life story is that while my life was being ripped apart I was fighting to make your lives better. "This face should be the face of every man who feels adversity and says, 'I'm not quitting because Bill Keeler said I should.'"

"I don't think he should be the face of the Democratic party and I don't think he should be the face of the city of Cohoes," Keeler said. "We are setting the bar too low, when we're saying just because our mayor hasn't been convicted he should hang in there."

Both Frangie and Napier agreed that if they were in Morse's position, facing these allegations, they would step down.

"Given the negative attention it brings to the city and the way it may negatively impact the people who look to Cohoes to bring investment or development dollars, I would step aside," Napier said.

But Morse continued to stand his ground.

"I made a lot of mistakes in my life, so did everyone in this room," Morse said. "Don't be afraid to admit them, don't be afraid to overcome them."

Morse said he has no intention of quitting.

"If I thought there was a better candidate for Cohoes, then I'd vote for that candidate," Morse said. "But I don't believe there is and I don't think there is a man that can stand in my shoes and still be standing after all of these things."

Frangie urged the voters to "remove emotions from their choice" and not to simply base their decision of who they want to "vote out of office, but instead who you want to vote in."

"Ask yourself do we have a leader?" Frangie said."Do we need to surround ourselves with a stronger leader?"

A second forum for the candidates is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday at Cohoes High School.