White Settlement Mayor Faron Young
City of White Settlement
White Settlement Mayor Faron Young, who is unopposed in the Nov. 3 election, said he was shocked when he saw security-camera footage showing a councilman’s wife stealing one of his campaign signs.
Jennifer James, whose husband, Aaron James, is seeking his second council term, was cited for theft after Young said he reported the incident to White Settlement police.
“I truly couldn’t tell you why she took the sign,” Young said.
Young said that on Oct. 1, he decided to check on his campaign signs after a rainstorm to make sure they were still in place.
The sign in question was on private property belonging to a dealership, Cars-For-U on White Settlement Road.
Young said he got permission from Cars-For-U to put up a campaign sign.
Young asked to review security-camera footage and saw someone driving up in a blue SUV, and he recognized Jennifer James taking his sign.
“I have no idea why she would do that,” Young said.
Aaron James, who owns a masonry business, did not return calls seeking comment.
Young said he decided to file a police report about the sign theft, and Jennifer James was cited for stealing the sign.
Young said he has no issue with James or with his wife.
“Jennifer and I have always been cordial, and she worked in our public library for a while,” Young said.
“It just doesn’t make sense,” he said.
When asked why he filed the police report, Young said he did so because the signs cost money.
“We raised funds. I had people who made donations for those signs,” he said.
“We shouldn’t be touching people’s private property,” Young said.
Although Young is unopposed, James is facing challenges from Don Wagnon, who is retired from Lockheed Martin, and David Burke, in the Place 1 council race.
James is also a Tarrant County Republican Party precinct chair.
Young posted previously about encouraging people to vote for Wagnon.
Young said he has no animosity toward James or his wife.
“It’s easy to say, ‘Hey, my wife made a mistake…”
“If you’re going to take someone’s sign, take your opponent’s.”
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Fort Worth Star-Telegram
With my guide dog Freddie, I keep tabs on growth, economic development and other issues in Northeast Tarrant cities and other communities near Fort Worth. I’ve been a reporter at the Star-Telegram for 34 years.