Donald Lee Dear, February 10, 1940 (Ohio) -
VP candidate for Independent Democrat (2016, 2020)
Running mate with nominee (2016, 2020): Willie Felix Carter (b. 1943)
Popular vote (2016): 60 (0.00%)
Popular vote (2020): 0 (0.00%)
Electoral vote (2016, 2020): 0/538
The campaign (2016):
A perennial candidate for President since 1988, Willie Felix Carter of Fort Worth, Tex. ran a slightly different campaign in 2016. As usual, he entered the Democratic primaries, but this time he registered as a write-in for the general election as well. He filed with the FEC as a Democrat on Mar. 10, 2013. Donald Dear of Gardena, Calif. was his running-mate.
On his campaign website Carter spelled out how he became politically involved--
I was first shown in a vision of the Lord, in the spring of 1980, that I was being condition to be the President of the United States of America. I was also shown in a vision in the spring of 1983 the complete destruction of our America by fire, from east to west and from north to south, America completely engulfed in fire as a great furnace, and I was commanded of the Lord to go on a 35 day fast that God turn his wrath from America. I wanted to eat and the Lord said: "Once that I get started with my wrath, I will not be turning back and you will wish that you had gone on a fast", so I asked the Lord, Lord help me on a fast, and He did, I was then commanded of the Lord to offer my hand of marriage to a certain woman, depicting as in the days of Hosea the prophet, then I was commanded of the Lord to enter the race to become the President of the United States of America, I have not hesitated, even unto this present time, I am yet running according to the Word of the Lord, only God knows the date and time appointed. I love all the people of this great nation, and I am hoping to serve as your President.
Of the People, by the People, for the People,
God Bless America.
His platform was presented in a Q & A format--
Q. According to recent polls, Hillary Clinton is the overwhelming favorite to win the Democratic nomination. Why are you wasting your time?
A. I was commanded of the Lord to enter the race to become the President after being shown in a vision in the Spring of 1983, the complete destruction of America by fire as a great furnace, and I trust in God and in his word.
Q. But no one has heard of you. You are not even on the radar as a candidate. How do you expect anyone to vote for you?
A. I believe that with the help of the Lord and concerned American citizens I can win this election, our nation embracing godly values again, We the People can, the word will get out even as it is today. There are many across our nation aware of my Campaign for President 2016 and yet believe in God our Creator as the Provider of this great freedom that we so enjoy across our land.
Q. How do you plan on raising money?
A. As concerned citizens are motivated, I believe that I will receive adequate finances to operate my campaign to win this election, the Lord promised to send people to help me. I have a broad range of experience working with people from all classes across our nation, I am sure that if elected to be the next president, the people of the These United States of America will be my deepest concern, and that together We the People of the United States of America will again embrace, the beliefs of our founding Fathers, “ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL”, That this nation under God shall have a new birth of Freedom.
Q. So how do you propose to gain "notoriety"?
A. The Lord said: “I will work a miracle for thee and reveal to the people that truly thou art a chosen vessel”.
Q. Do you have any skeletons in your closet?
A. No. I never used drugs, I do not drink, I have been married which ended in a divorce. I offered my hand of marriage to another lady in 1983, and she changed her mind afterwards, (The Lord said: that I had a marriage as the marriage of Hosea in the Holy Scriptures, that America had departed following him), so I have been waiting: I have never been arrested, I try to live a Christian life with the help of the Lord. I am a local Sunday school Superintendent at a church in Los Angeles, Ca, and a Lead Guitarist for a children's choir and a men’s choir in Los Angeles, CA.
When I was young, I embraced the Holy Bible and its teachings and sought to follow it in every aspect of my life. I was a Radio & Television Sales and Service dealer for 22 years. I served in the United States Air Force for a total of 28 years, regular and reserve time. In the Spring of 1980, I was shown in a vision by God that I was being conditioned to be the President of the United States of America, and momentarily given the power of the office to see what I would do, and I saw myself getting either in or out of the Staff car, and in the Spring of 1983 after being shown the complete destruction of America, fire as a great furnace completely engulfing our nation, I was commanded of God to go on a 35 day fast that God turn his wrath from America. I wanted to eat and God said, “once that I get started with my wrath I will not be turning back and you will wish that you had gone on a fast”, so I asked the Lord, Lord help me on a fast, and he did, afterwards commanding me to offer my hand of marriage to a certain woman that he deliver her from death, from an altercation from another individual that she knew. I did not want to offer my hand of Marriage to her: but I obeyed the Lord, and afterwards she departed and went her way, and the Lord said that I had a marriage as the marriage of Hosea in the Holy Bible, and that America had departed following him, find the meaning of the second child of Hosea, (Lo-ruhamah). The Lord showed me specific earthquakes in California and other severe weather patterns across our land. The Lord said: “I will no longer have mercy, and the leaves on the trees will turn green red and green again before all of these things shall be accomplished. I have sought to strictly follow all of the Words of the Lord to do them.
Q. Your campaign sounds interesting. How can I help?
A. You can contribute a few dollars using the contribution page, You may volunteer to help collect petition signatures, and you can post a link to my website: www.williecarterforpresident.com on your Facebook page.
Q: Where do you stand on Immigration?
A. I believe that every person entering American, The United States of America, should honor the laws of the People of this nation as is required of every American citizen, and law breakers are subject to fines, imprisonment or if illegal in our land deportation, and if a law is deemed by the justice to be improper, we the people of this nation have the tools to make the necessary changes in the laws. The laws serve as guidelines and allow citizens to know what they can or cannot do, and laws to be affective must be enforced by the governed, protecting the lives and property of the People of our nation.
Q: Where do you stand on Gay Marriage?
A. Sexual acts, between the same sex is forbidden in the Holy Scriptures, and I agree with the Holy Scriptures.
Q; Where do you stand concerning foreign intervention in conflicts around the World?
A. We have many concerns at home that I believe out weigh our involvement in the affairs of other entities, especially when the group or entity is a lawless body, I do not believe in isolationism, for we are an integral part of the World and we must all work together in harmony for the benefit of all people of the World. Many of the uprisings around the world are because many have a feeling of being left out, we can and must work together to address the needs of all people of the earth, starting at home first, The United States of America.
Q: Where do you stand concerning the ISIS?
A. The ISIS draw fuel from the unrest of individuals around the world, and as we in the world community begin to address the real needs of the people around the world, the ISIS will lose the power to draw support from those individuals. Also those responsible for committing harm to innocent victims must be brought to trial. Militarily, I believe that we need the support of ground forces capable of overcoming the present opposition, using air support to protect and soften the battlefield, as I believe that any engagement of our U.S. Military should be without a doubt to win with the least amount of casualties.
Q: What about the Homeless in our Nation?
A. There are many reason why many are homeless, and many unique circumstances which seem to all result in one or many being homeless, a delicate situation requiring attention. Job loss, illness, divorces, injuries, unaffordable housing to many, wage deficiencies, some without finance managing experience. I spoke to a business owner in Long Beach California the other day and he suggested apprenticeship training. We do need job training programs to assist and prepare many for the available jobs, and we need the corporation of employers to hire those being prepared, for we all benefit when America goes back to work.
Q. What other plans to you have for our nation if elected to be President?
A. Affordable Housing is needed because the income of many fall well below the average cost of housing, I support investing in more affordable housing communities, similar to Leisure World in Southern California, aware that in some places multifamily dwellings will be necessary especially in very populous areas of our nation like Los Angeles, CA, New York City, and Chicago. Illinois, Saint Louis, Missouri, Detroit, Michigan, Houston, Texas, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and the list goes on, we need to encourage investment in affordable housing.
Affordable Healthcare is also needed, providing affordable care for those with low incomes. I am hoping for the Healthcare providers to consider volunteering services for those unable to afford the high cost of services. Tax break incentives to encourage involvement.
The Carter/Dear ticket were registered as write-ins in Arizona, New York, and Washington.
The campaign (2020):
Carter filed with the FEC as a Democrat on Feb. 17, 2017. Dear filed as his Vice-President on Feb. 1, 2019.
Carter's 2020 platform appeared on his campaign webpage--
Issues
"DOING THE RIGHT THING"
1. Protecting our freedom, make no mistake how we care for the People of these United States of America, with a strong Military able to thwart off any aggression, and at the same time seeking a peaceable solution to hostility.
2. We must work together as a World Community to protect the lives of innocent people, the merciless killing of innocent people around the world must be brought to a stop by concerned nations, working together, bringing those to trial responsible for those atrocities.
3. Let’s stop the cycle of hunger and homeless across our nation, seriously addressing the Homeless problem across our nation with employment and affordable housing.
4. Jobs with decent wages, job preparation programs to prepare those willing to be employed, and other programs to address those unable to work because of health reasons, across our nation, let us put our nation back to work.
5. Affordable Healthcare without forcing the recipients or providers, a system that is just and fair, and I understand it will take a great deal of time to complete the process.
6. Environmental concerns necessary for healthy living without destroying the business community.
7. Immigration laws must be enforced with fairness allowing those willing to abide by our laws to become American citizens.
8. I support the idea that a government's legitimacy and moral right to use state power is only justified and legal when consented to by the people or society over which that political power is exercised.
9. I am against any mandatory Healthcare: When a service becomes mandatory, the price is fixed for increases just like any other service. I am pushing for affordable healthcare instead.
There are ways to provide affordable healthcare, and we must all work together to make it happen.
10. America's Economic Problem and a solution
11. I believe that rapid assault (fully automatic) guns should be reserved to the armed forces.
One source indicated the Carter/Dear ticket had registered as write-ins in California.
Election history:
1968 - Gardena, Calif, City Council - defeated
1970-1974 - Gardena, Calif. City Council
1973 - California State Assembly (Democratic) - primary - defeated
1974 - Gardena, Calif. City Council - defeated
1978-1982 - Gardena, Calif. City Council
1982-2001 - Mayor of Gardena, Calif.
2001-present - West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) Board of Directors
2008 - California State Senate (Democratic) - primary - defeated
2012 - County Central Committee, 66th Assembly District (Democratic) - defeated
Other occupations: President of Gardena Valley Democratic Club, teacher, Trustee of the Greater Los Angeles Vector Control District, Board of Directors for the Los Angeles County Sanitation District No. 5, President of the South Bay Cities Association (now known as South Bay Cities Council of Governments), Board of Directors of the Southern California Cities Joint Powers Consortium
Notes:
Carter is already gearing up for the 2024 election. No word on a running-mate yet.