Robert Dearing
Robert M. "Bob" Dearing (January 26, 1935 - July 30, 2020) was a Democratic member of the Mississippi State Senate, representing District 37. He served in the chamber from 1980 until 2012 and was elected to a new tenure in 2015. He retired before the end of his term on July 1, 2019.[1] Dearing died on July 30, 2020.[2]
Biography
Dearing earned his B.S.E. from Delta State University in 1957. He went on to receive his M.E. in administration from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1965.
Dearing worked as vice president of sales/marketing for Silent Knight Incorporated. He served in the United States Army from 1961 to 1962. He also worked as an elementary teacher for Natchez-Adams County School District from 1958 to 1962 and as a principal from 1962 to 1966. From 1966 to 1986, he was an associate for International Business Machines Corporation. He was also an agent for American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus.
Committee assignments
2019-2020
Dearing was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Appropriations Committee
- Senate Constitution Committee
- Senate Energy Committee
- Ports and Marine Resources Committee
- Highways and Transportation Committee
- Senate Insurance Committee
- Senate Public Property Committee, Vice-Chairman
- Public Health and Welfare Committee
2010-2011
In the 2010-2011 legislative session, Dearing was appointed to these committees:
- Appropriations Committee, Mississippi Senate
- Economic Development Committee, Mississippi Senate
- Highways and Transportation Committee, Mississippi Senate
- Insurance Committee, Mississippi Senate
- Oil, Gas and Other Minerals Committee, Mississippi Senate
- Public Health and Welfare Committee, Mississippi Senate
- Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Committee, Mississippi Senate
Elections
2019
- See also: Mississippi State Senate elections, 2019
Robert Dearing did not file to run for re-election.
2015
- See also: Mississippi State Senate elections, 2015
Elections for the Mississippi State Senate took place in 2015. A primary election was held on August 4, 2015, and the general election was held on November 3, 2015. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 27, 2015.[3] Robert Dearing defeated Etta Batteaste-Taplin in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Melanie Sojourner defeated Lane Reed and Curtis Moroney in the Republican primary. Dearing defeated Sojourner in the general election.[4]
On December 2, 2015, Sojourner formally challenged the outcome of the election, saying that "criminal fraud" was responsible for her defeat.[5] On January 5, 2016, Lt. Gov Tate Reeves (R) appointed a senatorial committee consisting of Terry Burton (R), Rita Parks (R), Sally Doty (R), Joey Fillingane (R) and Hillman Frazier (D). The committee was required to make a recommendation by January 18; it could either declare a winner or call a new election.[6] The chamber voted 47-3 to seat Dearing.[7]
| Mississippi State Senate, District 37 General Election, 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Robert Dearing |
50.2% | 8,218 | |
| Republican | Melanie Sojourner Incumbent | 49.8% | 8,154 | |
| Total Votes | 16,372 | |||
| Mississippi State Senate, District 37 Democratic Primary, 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|
Robert Dearing |
58% | 6,816 |
| Etta Batteaste-Taplin | 42% | 4,927 |
| Total Votes | 11,743 | |
| Mississippi State Senate, District 37 Republican Primary, 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|
Melanie Sojourner Incumbent |
55.4% | 2,433 |
| Lane Reed | 33.6% | 1,475 |
| Curtis Moroney | 11% | 484 |
| Total Votes | 4,392 | |
2011
- See also: Mississippi State Senate elections, 2011
Dearing lost his bid for re-election to the Mississippi Senate District 37. He ran unopposed in the primary on August 2, 2011. Melanie Sojourner defeated Stephen Oglesby in the Republican primary. Dearing lost to Sojourner in the general election on November 8, 2011.[8]
| Mississippi State Senate, District 37 General Election, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Melanie Sojourner |
51.1% | 10,272 | |
| Democratic | Robert Dearing Incumbent | 48.9% | 9,814 | |
| Total Votes | 20,086 | |||
2007
- See also: Mississippi State Senate elections, 2007
On November 6, 2007, Robert Dearing ran unopposed for District 37 of the Mississippi State Senate.[9]
| Mississippi Senate, District 37 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Robert Dearing (D) | 14,722 | 100% | ||
Scorecards
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Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Mississippi scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2019
In 2019, the Mississippi State Legislature was in session from January 8 through March 29.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business and economic issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Mississippi State Legislature was in session from January 2 through March 28.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Mississippi State Legislature was in session from January 3 through March 29. There was also a special session June 5.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Mississippi State Legislature was in session from January 5 through April 21.
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Campaign finance summary
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Dearing had three children with his wife, Shelley.
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Robert + Dearing + Mississippi + Senate"
See also
- Mississippi State Senate
- Mississippi State Senate District 37
- Mississippi State Senate elections, 2015
- Mississippi State Legislature
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Legislative profile on Project Vote Smart
- Biography on Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2009, 2007, 2005, 2003, 1999
Footnotes
- ↑ The Dispatch, "3 longtime Mississippi lawmakers retiring before term ends," July 1, 2019
- ↑ Clarion Ledger, "Former Mississippi state Sen. Bob Dearing of Natchez dies," July 30, 2020
- ↑ Mississippi Secretary of State, "2015 Elections Calendar," accessed December 2, 2014
- ↑ natchezdemocrat.com, "Dearing says he has enough votes to win District 37 senate seat," accessed November 12, 2015
- ↑ The Clarion Ledger, "Sojourner claims 'criminal fraud'; Dearing says, 'I won,'" December 3, 2015
- ↑ Associated Press, "Senate panel to hear Sojourner-Dearing election contest," January 5, 2016
- ↑ Daily Journal, "Dearing seated as Legislature inches closer to taking up bills," January 19, 2016
- ↑ Mississippi Department of State, "2011 Official State Senate Candidate List," accessed April 2, 2015
- ↑ Mississippi Secretary of State, "Mississippi State Senate official election results for 2007," accessed April 2, 2015
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Melanie Sojourner (R) |
Mississippi State Senate District 37 2016-2019 |
Succeeded by Melanie Sojourner (R) |
| Preceded by - |
Mississippi State Senate District 37 1980-2012 |
Succeeded by Melanie Sojourner (R) |
