Jim Dear
CA · Carson City Council Member, District 2
Jim Dear is a Carson City Council member and a public school English, government and history teacher. His priorities include public safety, resurfacing city streets and overhauling the city's building and plan-check services.
Where Jim Dear stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (1 record), Government Efficiency (3 records), Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record),
Opposes
Housing Affordability (1 record)
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (1 support · 1 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 1 support
As mayor, backed the City Council's vote declaring a local emergency over oil-polluted soil under the Carousel neighborhood. He called the contamination an environmental disaster for Carson.
July 29, 2013Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: cbsnews.com
Track record — Government Efficiency
Government Efficiency · 3 support
Moved to adopt an auditor's new controls for the city's special events fund right away; it failed 2-3. He then voted no as the council delayed the item 3-2.
May 16, 2023Supports Government Efficiency
Source: s3.us-west-004.backblazeb2.com
Moved to adopt a state audit's fixes to the city's internal controls, but no one seconded it. He then cast the only no vote to simply receive the audit report.
March 7, 2023Supports Government Efficiency
Source: s3.us-west-004.backblazeb2.com
Seconded a motion to hire a consultant to review the building, safety and engineering services Los Angeles County provides to Carson. It passed 5-0.
April 5, 2022Supports Government Efficiency
Source: s3.us-west-004.backblazeb2.com
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 1 support · 1 oppose
Made the motion adopting Carson's 2026-27 city budget, which included $8 million for street paving. It passed 5-0.
June 16, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: firebasestorage.googleapis.com
Cast the only no vote on raising council members' benefits, including a $6,000 retirement match and $400,000 life insurance. It passed 4-1.
April 15, 2025Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: firebasestorage.googleapis.com
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support
Asked city staff to bring back an ordinance against illegal street takeovers, like those in other cities.
October 17, 2023Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: s3.us-west-004.backblazeb2.com
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 1 oppose
Cast the only no vote on rezoning two vacant commercial lots on Main Street for a 19-unit apartment project. It passed 4-1.
November 1, 2022Opposes Housing Affordability
Source: s3.us-west-004.backblazeb2.com
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 3 support
Made the motion adopting Carson's 2026-27 city budget, which included $8 million for street paving. It passed 5-0.
June 16, 2026Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: firebasestorage.googleapis.com
Voted to approve a development agreement for a battery energy storage project at 18800 Broadway Avenue. It passed 3-2.
June 3, 2026Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: firebasestorage.googleapis.com
Made the motion awarding a $23.5 million contract to expand and improve Carriage Crest Park. It passed 5-0.
October 1, 2024Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: firebasestorage.googleapis.com
Track record — General
General · 24 records
Cast the only no vote on limiting city-staffed council town hall meetings to one per park each year. He had sought three staffed town halls per district.
September 15, 2026
Source: firebasestorage.googleapis.com
Cast the only no vote on putting a city charter amendment, including term-limit changes, on the November 2026 ballot. It passed 4-1.
August 4, 2026
Source: firebasestorage.googleapis.com
Cast the only no vote on putting an oil refinery business license tax on the November 2026 ballot. It passed 4-1.
August 4, 2026
Source: firebasestorage.googleapis.com
Voted against declaring Reflections Mini Park surplus city land, after his motion to delay it failed. It passed 3-2.
July 21, 2026
Source: firebasestorage.googleapis.com
Moved to delay a revised oil pipeline franchise ordinance by 30 days. He then voted no as it advanced 3-2.
February 3, 2026
Source: firebasestorage.googleapis.com
Voted against Carson's ban on selling and using all consumer fireworks; it passed 3-2. He first moved to keep nonprofit sales and let voters decide.
March 18, 2025
Source: firebasestorage.googleapis.com
Cast the only no vote on a citywide rezoning of residential and mixed-use areas to match the 2040 General Plan. It passed 4-1.
March 6, 2024
Source: s3.us-west-004.backblazeb2.com
Won the Carson City Council District 2 seat on Nov. 8, 2022, with 68.3 percent of the vote.
November 8, 2022
Source: results.lavote.gov
Cast the only no vote on leasing city land at the Community Center to Tesla for electric car fast chargers. It passed 4-1.
March 15, 2022
Source: s3.us-west-004.backblazeb2.com
Cast the only no vote on adopting new City Council district lines after the 2020 census. It passed 4-1.
March 15, 2022
Source: s3.us-west-004.backblazeb2.com
Cast the only no vote on sending Carson's draft 2021-2029 housing plan to the state. He said he first wanted a mobile home park zone; it passed 3-1.
October 5, 2021
Source: s3.us-west-004.backblazeb2.com
Cast the only no vote as the City Council formed a diversity, equity and inclusion ad hoc committee. It passed 3-1.
September 7, 2021
Source: s3.us-west-004.backblazeb2.com
Voted with Council Member Hilton for several people to fill a vacant council seat, including Elito Santarina and Jerry Groomes. Every vote split 2-2, so no one was appointed.
March 11, 2021
Source: s3.us-west-004.backblazeb2.com
Lost the Nov. 3, 2020 race for Carson mayor to Lula Davis-Holmes, 31.7 percent to 32.7 percent.
November 3, 2020
Source: cms3.revize.com
Voted against suspending 2020 sales permits for safe-and-sane fireworks during COVID-19. He backed sales with use limited to July 4, and the suspension failed 2-3.
June 2, 2020
Source: s3.us-west-004.backblazeb2.com
Was chosen as Carson's mayor pro tem by a 4-1 City Council vote.
January 14, 2020
Source: s3.us-west-004.backblazeb2.com
Made the motion to issue up to $115 million in bonds to refinance the city's pension debt. It passed 5-0.
January 14, 2020
Source: s3.us-west-004.backblazeb2.com
Voted against a resolution seeking strict new limits on gun sales and possession in Carson. He said it restricted law-abiding residents and did not believe it reduced crime. The vote tied 2-2, so it failed.
September 17, 2019
Source: s3.us-west-004.backblazeb2.com
Won a Carson City Council seat in the Nov. 6, 2018 election, placing second of nine candidates with 18.9 percent of the vote.
November 6, 2018
Source: cms3.revize.com
Was removed as Carson city clerk by voters in a Feb. 23, 2016 recall election. The recall passed with 53.2 percent of the vote.
February 23, 2016
Source: cms3.revize.com
Won re-election as Carson mayor over Lula Davis-Holmes in the March 5, 2013 city election, as certified by City Council Resolution No. 13-026.
March 5, 2013
Source: cms3.revize.com
The City Council voted 3-1 to remove the microphone mute button Mayor Dear used on public speakers. He said he used it only for profanity, slurs, or speakers over their time.
May 8, 2012
Source: cbsnews.com
As mayor, asked the City Council to name a street in the Boulevards at South Bay development "Jim Dear Boulevard." The council deadlocked on the request.
September 21, 2011
Source: cbsnews.com
As mayor, ordered the City Hall U.S. flag lowered to half-staff for Michael Jackson's funeral. After veterans objected, the City Council changed the city code and took away part of the mayor's flag power.
July 7, 2009
Source: nbclosangeles.com
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 1 record
Was censured by the Carson City Council in October 2015 while serving as city clerk. An outside probe found he threatened and harassed city staff, mainly for political gain.
October 27, 2015
Source: cbsnews.com
Past race Jim Dear ran in:
- Member of the City Council, District 2 · November 3, 2026 · Carson city, California · incumbent