Obviously city of Carson voters are endeared to the irrepressible Jim Dear, their mayor for a decade, who remained undefeated on another smiling election day.

Keepers of City Hall etiquette have not yet determined that when Mayor Dear replaces Donesia Gause as the city clerk, he will be stepping laterally or otherwise.

No oldtimers, perhaps anywhere in America, could remember when a mayor deliberately ran for the city clerk’s chair, typically a less prestigious position.

And won.

Solidly.

Mr. Dear, possibly the most magnetic, outspoken mayor in Southern California, was chosen by 4218 voters.

Ms. Gause was 350 back at 3868.

The race between contrasting personalities, never was going to win a beauty contest.

As recently as yesterday, Mr. Dear, who is white, charged that the backers of Ms. Gause, who is black, had continually  injected race into the unusual matchup of a mayor and city clerk.

It is not entirely clear how well rounded the winner is in record-keeping obligations, a traditionally low-profile office that is destined to go public and high-profile within minutes.

It is equally well accepted that Ms. Gause is a distinctly dedicated and capable city clerk, steeply trained in the office’s sometimes arcane duties.

But the staid clerk’s office may never have met the professional likes of the colorful Mr. Dear.