Albany mayoral candidate Valerie Faust, in a phone interview with Spectrum News 1 on Tuesday, said her 50-year-old son was arrested on felony weapons charges. 

The charges come as the city of Albany has seen multiple shootings in recent weeks, including six people in one incident last month, as well as the shooting death of a 15-year-old girl. It also comes as Faust runs on a platform of public safety in a Democratic primary against two-term Mayor Kathy Sheehan. 

Faust in the interview said her son should be held accountable. 

"No one is exempted from the law," Faust said. "You do the crime, you do the time, and my son and my situation is no different than any other family that has to go through these things." 

The Cohoes Police Department said Tuesday Wantu Ackerman is facing multiple felony charges, including second-degree criminal possession of a loaded firearm and first-degree reckless endangerment. 

Faust contacted Spectrum News 1 soon after she heard about the arrest. Faust has called for efforts to fight crime and prevent shootings in Albany. Her son's arrest, she said, will help her better understand the challenges facing families in Albany.  

"I think that will make me a better mayor because I'll relate to the problems with our children," Faust said. "We have to hold our children accountable for what they do. He has to face the music. I'm not accountable for his behavior, he's a grown man. But I'm glad those guns are off the street."