Mansfield mayor calls out right-wing influence in race; challenger embraces it
The two candidates vying for mayor of Mansfield are clashing over the influence of right-wing politicians and organizations in the election, and the role partisan politics should play in shaping the city’s future.
Michael Evans, 58, senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Mansfield, is seeking his third term as mayor. He said the city doesn’t need outsiders influencing a nonpartisan race.
‘It is simply mind-boggling in a nonpartisan race that Mansfield would get this much attention, but we sure do have it now,” Evans said, calling the influence insulting to the locals.
“We don’t need help from the far right or from the far left when it comes to picking our candidates, Mansfield is large enough and smart enough to choose their own candidates,” he said.
But Julie Short, 54, a real estate agent and council member since 2018, sees things differently.
Short has held campaign rallies with Tarrant and Dallas county GOP chairs Bo French and Allen West, and organizations including the True Texas Project, the Grapevine-based group that began in 2009 as the NE Tarrant Tea Party.
“I think you can look at Mansfield and see how important it is to Tarrant County, and how important Tarrant County is to Texas, and how important Texas is to the United States on the direction things are going, and I think that’s why the bigger picture is being looked at for Mansfield races,” she said.
“But you know, it’s happening on both sides.”
Short described how she has been called a “racist” and “white nationalist” in posts from the left, such as the Lone Star Project.
Short said she wants a return to traditional values with less government involvement.
“We believe in biblical values,” she said. “We have taught our kids that we don’t decide where we stand on an issue. We say, What does the word of God say about it? And that’s how we decide where we stand on an issue. OK, that happens to line up with the Republican Party more than the Democrat Party.”
Evans said he does not want involvement from the right or left when it comes to local races such as city council and school board.
What are issues at play
Short and Evans have deep ties to the city and served together on the City Council. For the most part, they’ve voted in favor of projects, and Evans said he doesn’t understand why his opponent isn’t running on the success that Mansfield has seen over the years. He touted the lowest property tax rate in 35 years and a nationally recognized parks and trails system. The city is also partnering with FC Dallas to build a 100-acre soccer complex, and a new city hall will anchor a town square as part of a 200-acre development at U.S. 287 and Texas 360.
Evans also pointed to his record for improving public safety as the city built a training center so that police officers wouldn’t have to train elsewhere.
When asked about voting with Evans on projects before the City Council, Short said, “I know, he keeps saying that.”
Short said a “typical council meeting” involves voting on items such as paving roads and contracts to keep the city running.
But she said she doesn’t support Evans’ efforts to “bring more social services” and public transportation into the city.
She described Trinity Metro operating vans in Mansfield, and said the service was going to expand, but the service is ending this summer.
She said there was also an effort for Mansfield to work with the Tarrant Area Food Bank.
“I am a less government person, and I believe that churches and charities should take care of people’s needs in that way, not government,” she said.
Short mentioned charities such as Mission Mansfield and Harvesting in Mansfield that provide food and funds for transportation.
Evans said he wants voters to look at all of the progress Mansfield has made in the past four years and said he plans to continue to invest in the city.
“I believe in making sure that we enhance the quality of life for everybody in Mansfield, not just Democrats or Republicans or libertarians or you name it, whatever you fill in the blank.”
Early voting for the May 3 election ends April 29.
This story was originally published April 23, 2025 at 3:55 PM.