One in a series. 

In a political universe suddenly wringing wet with the perspiration of ugly charges of ubiquitous racism, comes now the recall election of Carson City Clerk Jim Dear.

Any sense of tranquility on the eve of Thanksgiving shatters when Basil Kimbrew, a peer who has known Mr. Dear for nearly all of his 62 years, starts railing against his ex-pal and Gardena High School classmate.

Mr. Kimbrew is a crusading black journalist and chef, among a variety of callings. He is perhaps more fiercely aroused than anyone else about the pending Feb. 23 election. Mr. Kimbrew’s flaming passion for this cause, burning for years, is not dimmed by distance – of mileage or years. He resides out in the Moreno Valley, desert territory.

“Evidence is overwhelming that Jim Dear is a racist,” says Mr. Kimbrew.

Specificity, however, is scarce.

Like his partner-in-recall, Vera Robles DeWitt, onetime Carson City Council member, Mr. Kimbrew is trying for the second time to drive Mr. Dear from office. They failed in September 2008.

What is different this time?

“For all the years we have been trying to get Jim out, he has had a lock on the Filipino community,” Mr. Kimbrew said. “He knew this day was coming. He formulated his base. But this time, the overwhelming number of people (city employees) coming forward to testify against him, even if they felt intimidated about losing their job, they came out.

“That,” said Mr. Kimbrew, “is the difference this time.”

Whether the perceived courage surge among city workers who were promised anonymity is a sign of a citywide anti-Dear movement remains in question – at least until evidence surfaces.