The last year has been a rollercoaster for Carson.
Tuesday’s recall election saw the Carson electorate support the recall with 53.8% voting in favor of removing the city clerk.
To facilitate the recall election, the City of Carson brought in retired Torrance city clerk Sue Herbers. Herbers reported a 16% voter turnout for Tuesday.
Along with Dear’s ousting, residents also voted to reinstate Donesia Gause, who previously held the city clerk post before Dear beat her in the March 2015 election. Gause had been appointed to a city council seat afterward. So Gause must now vacate that council seat to return to the clerk post. Councilmembers still must decide how to fill the council vacancy.
Months after Dear’s March 2015 election win to become city clerk, the city eventually obtained a restraining order against Dear and friends he brought to work for support.
He was censured by city council shortly thereafter amid allegations of intimidating and racist comments and actions toward city hall employees.
The Daily Breeze also reported that he wasn’t able to perform many day-to-day functions of his office, since he was not professionally qualified.
The City of Carson is now pursuing criminal charges against him because city officials feel he only pursued the city clerk office because it offered far greater salary and retirement than the part-time mayor’s job. (Gotta love pension spiking.)
More on the Carson recall election can be found here.