Dateline Carson – Mere hours before tomorrow’s second recall attempt against him in eight years, Carson City Clerk Jim Dear sounded what was an unusual note for him.
He has exuded confidence for a little more than 60 years, since entering his mother’s womb.
On this day, Mr. Dear was asked if he was as optimistic about prevailing as he was last June when the recall attempt No. 2 took wings.
Instead of his normal high-voltage response, Mr. Dear calmly said, “I feel about the same.”
No, the fire in his belly has not been extinguished.
Probably because it can’t be by anyone but Mr. Dear.
“It is hard to predict in these special elections,” he said. “Turnout is so low it could go either way.”
After two decades in public life, how does Mr. Dear prepare himself psychologically?
His response was vintage Dear.
“Remember I am a veteran of this,” said the breezing winner of a 2008 recall try by the same activist group that practically has dedicated each member’s life or career to driving Mr. Dear out of his validly won offices.
He reflected on his year-by-year record.
“The first time I ran for office was in 1997,” said Mr. Dear, a career educator. “I lost that election. I lost an election in ’99, which was a squeaker.
“In 2001, I won a landslide victory. Ever since 2001, I have won big victories – in 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2013 and then in 2015, I won the city clerk’s job.”
As in the past, Mr. Dear is not taking any chances. He has devoted all of these last days to campaigning. He dare not take his foot off the gas.
Led by former Mayor Vera Robles DeWitt, the recall gang has declared a bevy of charges – mistreatment of employees is a central pillar along with the latest rap – an attempt to launch a criminal investigation of Mr. Dear by the County District Attorney for deliberately seeking an office that would spike his pension and quintuple his $22,000 salary as mayor for more than a decade. At last glance, the D.A.’s office was seen yawning.
