District 30 congressional candidate arrested in Grand Prairie for taking politicians’ signs

A Republican candidate to replace U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson was arrested on a charge of theft for stealing other candidates’ campaign signs, according to Grand Prairie police. Candidates who were picking up their signs saw James Frank Harris putting numerous campaign signs and their wooden and metal stakes in his vehicle on the afternoon of March 3, Grand Prairie police said. Officers arrived at the 4700 block of South Carrier Parkway and found Harris with a trailer filled with campaign signs and stakes. He was arguing with at least two witnesses, and some of the exchange was captured on video and posted on social media.

Harris, a DeSoto resident, had the signs of numerous other candidates, and he could face additional charges, Beseda said. “This remains an active investigation with possible additional victims and charges forthcoming,” Beseda said. The Dallas County GOP is aware of the arrest and has made it clear it does not condone such actions. Reached Wednesday by The Dallas Morning News, Harris said he made a list of candidates who lost and collected only signs from them because he figured they wouldn’t need them. Harris said he planned to use the stakes for his signs in the runoff election and, if he advances, in the November general election. In all, he estimated he collected about two dozen stakes. Harris said he reasoned that candidates often leave their signs for city staff to place in the trash. “The city generally picks them up and discards them themselves. Very seldomly do (candidates) go out and pick up their signs,” Harris said.