Jandel Crutchfield, a candidate for Mansfield ISD School Board Place 2 in the upcoming May election and a professor of social work at the University of Texas at Arlington, is under scrutiny after community members raised concerns regarding her permanent residence.
A Mansfield resident, Olivia Cruz, claimed Crutchfield may own two homes, each in a different state and each with a homestead exemption. Homestead exemptions are only allowed on an individual or married couple’s primary residence. Cruz posted several documents on X purportedly showing the properties in question.
“Jandel Crutchfield running for MISD School Board and has 2 homes in 2 different states with homestead exemption. SMH We need ethical individuals not Criminals,” Cruz said on X.
Myra Miller Castles, a Mansfield activist, told The Dallas Express, “Electing individuals with questionable ethical standards to positions of influence sets a dangerous precedent. It sends a message that dishonesty and self-interest are acceptable traits for those in leadership roles, undermining the trust and integrity of our institutions.”
“As a community, we have a responsibility to hold ourselves and our leaders to the highest ethical standards. We must advocate for transparency, accountability, and fairness in all aspects of governance, including tax compliance,” Castles said.
The Dallas Express reached out to Crutchfield for comment about the allegation, but she did not respond by publication.
During her time as an academic, Crutchfield has written essays on white supremacy, such as “The obligation of white women: Dismantling white supremacy culture in social work education,” according to her bio on MansfieldTXNews.
The essay states, “White women should not pursue social work unless they self-reflect and clearly understand why they are interested in working in this field.”
Another research paper titled “Colorism and Police Killings” states, “The suggestion that darker-skinned Black people are even more likely to be killed by police while unarmed adds a provocative argument supporting the need to remain focused on colorism when analyzing deaths of people at the hands of police.”
Crutchfield was the director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University of Texas at Arlington from 2021 to 2023, according to Mansfieldtxnews.Â
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, LaKashia Wallace, a Dallas ISD candidate, faced public scrutiny after reports showed that her house was set to be demolished this month, raising questions on her validity to run for office. However, she claims she has been living with her daughter, whose home is in the same school board district.
