Business owner Sam Khan is a big fan of White Settlement Mayor Faron Young. Khan, who owns Cars-4-U, said the mayor often makes the rounds of local businesses to ask how he can help his constituents. 

So when Young, who is running for reelection, knocked on Khan’s door in September to ask if he could place a campaign sign on his business’ lawn, Khan and his wife quickly agreed. But just days later, the sign vanished. 

“It was there, then it was gone,” Alice Khan, Sam’s wife, said.

Surveillance footage shows a woman taking the sign and stashing it in her car before driving away. The Khans said they know who the woman is: Jennifer James, wife of White Settlement Councilmember Aaron James. The video has since been posted to social media, with the theft drawing outrage from residents. 

The White Settlement police department confirmed Jennifer James was issued a citation for theft in relation to the campaign sign in early October. 

“A citation was issued in the White Settlement municipal court in connection with the alleged theft of the campaign sign,” WSPD spokesperson Thomas Hale wrote. “The matter will proceed through the court process, and Mrs. James is entitled to due process.”

Jennifer James could not be reached for comment at two phone numbers publicly listed for her. Aaron James did not respond to an emailed request for comment. 

In a statement sent to the Dallas Morning News, Young said he was grateful to WSPD for their quick response and never expected the situation to get so much attention.

“I never wanted to make a big deal out of this or cause problems for anyone,” Young said. “I noticed the sign was missing, I reported it to the police like anyone would, and I thought that would be the end of it. Somehow the video ended up online, and here we are.”

James is also running to keep his position on the council in next month’s election. Young, who has served as mayor of White Settlement since 2023, is running unopposed for a second term. James is running against David Burke and Don Wagnon to represent White Settlement Place 1 in the City Council.

While they are not running against each other in this election cycle, the two politicians have a history of competition. Young previously defeated James in the 2023 race for White Settlement mayor, winning the position by more than 80 votes. 

Jennifer James is set to appear in White Settlement Municipal Court and faces up to $356 in fines if convicted.