Mansfield Mayor Michael Evans faces criticism from former City Council candidate Melisa Perez over a recent mosque visit and whether his outreach to Muslim communities overlaps with his political interests.
The criticism follows a visit by Evans and Mansfield Police Chief Tracy Aaron to Unity Islamic Center, also known as Mansfield Masjid. Talal Alshami thanked the officials for their support in a Facebook post that also described efforts to expand the center.
“It was an honor to meet Mansfield Mayor Michael Evans and Police Chief Tracy Aaron today at Unity Center, Mansfield Masjid. A heartfelt thank you to both leaders for visiting our mosque and showing their support for the Muslim community as we work toward expanding our center to better serve Mansfield,” Alshami wrote on Facebook.
Alshami described the visit as a gesture of respect and religious freedom.
“Your presence reminds us that respect, unity, and religious freedom bring our community together, regardless of our faith or background,” he wrote.
Prior outreach and campaign connections
The visit was not Evans’ first appearance at an Islamic community event.
On March 15, 2025, while campaigning for reelection, Evans shared a Facebook post referencing an event titled “Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Fort Worth: Interfaith Iftar (Dinner/Fellowship).” The post tagged Suha Almosawi. That event involved a different Muslim community from Unity Islamic Center.
Perez, who ran for Mansfield City Council’s Place 5 seat in 2025, told The Dallas Express that residents should distinguish the police chief’s responsibilities from the mayor’s political activities.
“I know Chief Tracy Aaron as a Christian and faithful man of God. My husband and I have participated in Bible studies alongside him. His oath of office commits him to uphold the Constitution and the laws of our nation and state. His responsibility is to protect every person in Mansfield, regardless of faith. I respect that duty, and his presence at the Unity Center should not, by itself, be interpreted as an endorsement of the Muslim faith,” Perez said.
Perez questioned whether Evans’ participation in Muslim community events also serves his political interests.
“My concern is with Mayor Evans and the political message surrounding this photograph. In my view, this is political for him. Suha Almosawi publicly supported his reelection and, in a February 2025 post, thanked him for inviting her to participate in his campaign. Another supporter used his appearance at a Muslim community event to promote him while criticizing his 2025 opponent, Julie Short. These posts document how those relationships and appearances have been used to promote him politically,” Perez said.
Perez argued that the mayor’s previous appearances and the campaign connections she described warrant further scrutiny.
“His appearance at the Unity Center is not an isolated event. Photographs show his participation in other Muslim community functions, and the posts demonstrate campaign connections. That history warrants scrutiny of how he distinguishes his official outreach from his political interests,” she said.
Questions about the visit and his pastor role
Perez also questioned the message Evans intended to convey during the recent visit.
“Mr. Alshaml’s shared this post on several facebook pages while presenting the Unity Center visit as a show of support for the Muslim community. Mayor Evans should explain precisely what he supports and what message he intended residents to take from his appearance,” she said.
Evans is also a Baptist pastor who leads Bethlehem Baptist Church in Mansfield, according to his official city biography.
Perez pointed to his religious leadership while questioning what he communicated during his visit to the Islamic center.
“Evans is also a Baptist pastor. On October 12, he spoke about treating people with dignity and using opportunities to speak truth. What truth did he share at the Unity Center? Did he communicate his Christian convictions? Residents deserve a direct answer,” she said.
Separate debates across North Texas
The local criticism comes amid broader political debate in North Texas over Islamic institutions, religious influence and proposed developments.
U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) criticized what he described as the spread of radical Islam in the United States in February, as The Dallas Express reported.
“Our citizens deserve to live in a Sharia-free America – the facts are undeniable, radical Islam is an alien ideology that seeks to dominate American life,” Gill told The Dallas Express. “Research shows that 33% of Muslims in the U.S. believe that Islam should be declared as our national religion.”
A September 2024 survey of 500 U.S. Muslims by J.L. Partners for The Heritage Foundation found that 22% strongly supported and 11% somewhat supported declaring Islam the national religion.
HUD separately announced on February 13 an investigation into EPIC Real Properties, Inc., and Community Capital Partners, LP over alleged religious and national origin discrimination involving the proposed North Texas development known as The Meadow, formerly EPIC City, as The Dallas Express reported.
“It is deeply concerning the East Plano Islamic Center may have violated the Fair Housing Act and participated in religious discrimination,” HUD Secretary Scott Turner said in the announcement. “As HUD Secretary, I will not stand for illegal religious or national origin discrimination in housing and will ensure that this matter receives a thorough investigation so that this community is open to all Texans.”
Those matters concern separate organizations and issues. The material reviewed for this article does not establish that Evans’ Mansfield visit involved discriminatory conduct or support for imposing religious law.
Perez’s criticism centers on the distinction between Evans’ official outreach and political interests, along with the message residents should take from his visit.
The Dallas Express reached out to Evans for comment but did not receive a response before publication.
