Candidate denies 'coward punching' Sydney mayor

A suburban Sydney council candidate says he didn't punch the local mayor at a polling booth.

Independent Victor Tagg has denied striking 52-year-old Ryde Mayor Bill Pickering at Putney Public School, in the city's northwest, yesterday.

The pair were there attending a ward by-election for which Mr Tagg was a candidate.

When asked today whether he struck Mr Pickering, Mr Tagg said: "No."

Pressed to explain what happened, he declined to make further comment.

Asked if he was going to speak with police, Mr Tagg replied: "I am going to talk to my solicitor."

Mr Pickering told reporters today he was recovering.

However, he declined to give specifics, saying a police investigation was underway.

"I had an MRI scan, everything's OK neurologically," he said.

"Obviously there's swelling and other things but nothing I won't recover from in a couple of days."

He said he could identify the man who allegedly assaulted him.

The Ryde mayor said he was handing out sandwiches and thanking volunteers when he became aware of a couple being berated.

He began talking to them before being confronted by another man.

Mr Pickering said he only just saw the punch coming.

"It was too late to react," he said.

Police say inquiries are ongoing.