‘Somebody else’s words’: Mansfield school board candidate admits public comments weren’t his
Before Mansfield school board candidate Quintin Huckaby made a public comment at a March 7 joint meeting between the city council and school board, he approached the lectern and laid down a sheet of paper.
As he read his comment about the book challenge policy and a book that should be banned, Huckaby stumbled over his words, at times pausing and sounding unsure about what he was saying. He called the policy a “joke” that “left the door wide open” to let any books stay in the library.
Huckaby admitted at a candidate forum Tuesday evening at Bethlehem Baptist Church that the comments written on that sheet weren’t actually his — they were written by a school board member for him to read at the meeting.
“That speech that I was giving was not the words of myself,” Huckaby said Tuesday. “So if I froze on that speech, it was not my words in particular. It was somebody else’s words.”
Huckaby wrote in a post on his campaign Facebook page Wednesday afternoon that he felt he was qualified to be on the school board. He said that now wasn’t the time, though, “due to issues that have surrounded the campaign.”
Huckaby wrote he was approached by a PAC and told it would mentor him. He did not name the PAC.
“I felt I was led astray by people who told me if I followed everything they said I would get elected,” Huckaby wrote. “While I am still proud of running to help out my district grow, I would ask each person to still vote for me. I personally believe I can help the conservative movement by bringing to light the lack of support, leadership, and accountability that is going on behind the scenes. Also, I don’t believe you should push out another candidate from the same party because of their race because the opposition doesn’t look like them. Racism is still alive and well, even if you have family members that look like me.”
Huckaby told a Star-Telegram reporter Wednesday afternoon he was not withdrawing from the race.
“I plan on winning,” he said.
Huckaby’s admission came after an event moderator asked him about the comments during Tuesday’s candidate forum.
Huckaby, a real estate agent, said he believed some books needed to be banned in schools, but if they were in public libraries that was fine. Huckaby said the district had books in circulation that shouldn’t be accessible by students. He said the content should be taught by teachers so it is taught correctly.
The moderator said there was word going around that the comments Huckaby made weren’t his. Huckaby confirmed this was true.
“They were words from another person that I was, let’s see, I was trying to help get a point across,” Huckaby said. “The person wrote a speech for me and I just read the speech and after I read the speech and I didn’t feel like the words should’ve been my words, I felt like I was being duped.”
Huckaby said the words he said were written by someone who was a sitting member of the school board and wanted to “portray it to everybody.” He said in his words, he believes some books should be banned. He did not say which school board member gave him the comments.
Huckaby is set to run against Benita Reed, who lost her election bid in a runoff against Craig Tipping last May.
Early voting for municipal elections begins April 24. Election Day is May 6.
This story was originally published April 12, 2023 at 10:52 AM.
CORRECTION: Election Day is May 6.
