Chief Dyer proves to be nimble politician when the inevitable mayor question comes up

Last Friday in the final few seconds of Valley Press on the local PBS station, program host Jim Tucker switched the topic from gang prevention to whether Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer will run for mayor next year. Dyer didn't answer the question, and instead ran out the clock like he was an NFL quarterback protecting a lead as the time ticked away.

All Tucker could get out of Dyer was that the Channel 18 show wasn't the appropriate forum to talk about his political plans. That may have been a victory of sorts for the chief, but it left the rest of us speculating about Dyer's intentions.

If he isn't going to run next year, he could have quickly put the rumors to rest by telling Tucker he is not a candidate for mayor. Simple, straightforward, done.

But he didn't and we now must assume that Dyer likes the talk of him being a possible candidate to succeed Mayor Alan Autry. Depending on who you talk to, Dyer has offered different responses in recent weeks to the question of whether he is running for mayor. Even Autry says Dyer is confusing people by giving "three answers" to the big question: Yes, no and maybe.

If Dyer decided to run for mayor, he would be a big early favorite. Some think he is so popular that he could win the race in the June primary, even with a crowded field. Dyer is like a rock star at public events in Fresno, with residents gushing over him.

The chief has charisma that the other candidates can only dream of. It doesn't hurt that he is very comfortable when the cameras are rolling. The running joke around The Bee newsroom is that a podium magically springs up at major crime scenes and in a blink of the eye Dyer is addressing the media. The guy's good.

Dyer's coyness about his political plans may come from him being truly conflicted about running for mayor. Another view is that he probably would have to take a leave of absence to run and the longer he delays an announcement, the longer he can collect a paycheck. The chief isn't letting us in on the secret -- at least right now.

The only certain thing is that Dyer has the power to clear the air about his political plans. He hasn't and that must mean something.