Jim Dear has sat on the Carson city council since 2004. He served as mayor until 2015, when he resigned after being elected city clerk. Community members, along with a known political strategy company, have successfully launched a recall campaign, which has a special election date set for February 23, 2016.
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Dear is targeted for recall over what petitioners called “erratic behavior.” Dear delayed his counting of votes cast in a June 2015 election and fought the council when they tried to appoint a temporary elections official. When the council then tried to appoint the winner to the seat during a meeting instead, Dear argued against the move, calling them “corrupt and evil.” There are also accusations of intentional disenfranchisement over Dear changing two polling locations. Dear was also targeted because of his support for a statue of former Turkish leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
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A minimum of 800 valid signatures was required to force a recall election against Dear. Supporters submitted 12,000 signatures and Dear submitted 1,600 withdrawal signatures for petition signees who recanted their support for the recall. The Carson City Clerk approved enough signatures to require a recall election.
The company assisting with the recall efforts have a long track record of political engagement. Will recalling Jim Dear be added to their “successful projects” list?
If you are a Carson resident, and wish to vie for the seat, you have until February 9th to be a write in candidate.
