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Sam Farr

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Sam Farr
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 20th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2013
Preceded byJim Costa
Succeeded byJimmy Panetta (elect)
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 17th district
In office
June 17, 1993 – January 3, 2013
Preceded byLeon Panetta
Succeeded byMike Honda
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 28th district
In office
December 1980 – June 1993
Succeeded byBruce McPherson
Personal details
Born
Samuel Sharon Farr

(1941-07-04) July 4, 1941 (age 83)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseShary Baldwin Farr
ChildrenJessica Farr
ResidenceCarmel, California
Alma materWillamette University, Santa Clara University, Monterey Institute of International Studies

Samuel Sharon "Sam" Farr[1] (born July 4, 1941) is the U.S. Representative for California's 20th congressional district, serving in Congress since 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He was elected to Congress in a 1993 special election when longtime Democratic Rep. Leon Panetta resigned to become Director of the Office of Management and Budget. On November 12, 2015, he announced his retirement from Congress after the 2016 elections.[2]

Early and personal life

Farr was born in San Francisco, the son of Janet E. (née Haskins) and Frederick Sharon "Fred" Farr. One of his maternal great-grandfathers was acting mayor of Los Angeles William Hartshorn Bonsall, and one of his paternal great-great-grandfathers was the brother of Nevada Senator William Sharon.[3] He grew up in Carmel, where he still lives. His father was a California state senator for many years. Farr was educated at Willamette University, Santa Clara University and the Monterey Institute of International Studies.

He is married to Shary and has one daughter, Jessica. He is grandfather to two: Ella and Zach. [citation needed]

Peace Corps service

Farr joined the Peace Corps in 1964 and served for two years as a volunteer in Colombia. He spent his time in a poor barrio near Medellin, teaching community development skills.[4]

While he was serving in Colombia, Farr’s mother died from cancer. Following her death, his father visited with Farr’s sisters. While riding horses, one of his sisters (Nancy), was thrown and hit her head. She died on the operating table in a Colombian hospital.[citation needed]

Since his Peace Corps service ended, Farr has visited Colombia several times. He took his wife for their honeymoon and has returned several other times for both personal and official business. During a trip in 2007, Farr spoke in front of the Colombian Congress and was awarded the Orden del Congreso de Colombia.[5]

State and local political career

Farr’s public service career began in the California Assembly, where he worked as a staffer on budget issues for a decade. In 1975, he ran for and won a seat on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors.

In 1980 he was elected to the California State Assembly, where he became a champion for the organics industry and wrote one of the country’s strictest oil spill liability laws. He served in the Assembly until his election to Congress in 1993. [citation needed]

House of Representatives

Earlier photo of Congressman Farr

Farr was elected to the House of Representatives in 1993 through a special election when former Congressman Leon Panetta resigned to become President Clinton’s budget director. Farr was elected to his first full term in 1994.

Legislation

  • Farr introduced the “Oceans Conservation, Education, and National Strategy for the 21st century Act” (H.R. 21) in January 2007. The bill would consolidate national management of oceans, creating a system of regional governance; make the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration the chief oceans agency; creates an ocean advisor in the president’s Cabinet; creates regional and national ocean advisory committees; and create an Oceans and Great Lakes Conservation Trust Fund. It received a subcommittee markup in April 2008 and passed by a vote of 11–3.[6]
  • Farr's "Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian Management Act of 2008" (H.R. 1084) was approved by the House but stalled in the Senate. The bill would create capacity within the State Department to quickly deploy civilian expertise and coordinate the government response to crises abroad. President [George W. Bush] supports the program and approved initial creation of the group. Farr participated in a rollout of the group with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in July 2008.[7]

Caucus work

Sam Farr meets with Jack O'Neill

Farr is active in several congressional caucuses, including the House Oceans Caucus, the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus, the Congressional Bike Caucus, the Congressional Organic Caucus, the International Conservation Caucus, and the Unexploded Ordnance Caucus.[8]

He serves as co-chair of the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus with Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Florida). Farr has taken an active role in supporting the travel industry, boosting membership in the caucus to more than 100 and hosting caucus events, including a June 2008 gathering of travel executives and congressional leaders, the Economic Roundtable: Travel’s Significance to the U.S. Economy.[9][10]

Farr is also active as co-chair of the House Oceans Caucus, which he co-chairs with four other members of Congress. Each year the caucus helps sponsor Capitol Hill Oceans Week, known as CHOW, which draws hundreds of ocean experts from across the country. He is also co-chair of the Congressional Organic Caucus and the Unexploded Ordnance Caucus.

Other leadership positions

Farr serves on the House Democracy Assistance Commission, a group established by the House of Representatives mandated to work with emerging democracies throughout the world. The group engages in “peer-to-peer cooperation to build technical expertise in partner legislatures that will enhance accountability, transparency, legislative independence, access to information, and government oversight.”[11]

Farr is also the former chairman of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation, the largest state delegation in Congress.[citation needed]

Committee assignments

Positions

Domestic Issues

Sam Farr
  • Oceans. Farr is a proponent of ocean protection and conservation. In addition to H.R. 21, Farr has introduced the Southern Sea Otter Recovery and Research Act (H.R. 3639) and the Clean Cruise Ship Act (H.R. 6434).
  • Gas prices. Farr opposes opening new areas to offshore drilling, instead supporting the drilling of 68,000,000 acres (280,000 km2) of federally owned land already under lease, including 33,000,000 acres (130,000 km2) on the Outer Continental Shelf. Farr also supports ending subsidies to oil companies.[14]
  • Base Realignment and Closure. Farr has worked closely with Central Coast cities and the Army on the reuse of the former Fort Ord. He was integral in securing $29 million for the creation of California State University-Monterey Bay. He also played a role in making sure land on the former installation included significant amounts of affordable housing.
  • Immigration. Farr supports comprehensive immigration reform that includes a guest worker program for farm workers, allowing undocumented students to remain in the country (known as the DREAM Act), and deporting undocumented felons in U.S. jails.[15]

Foreign Affairs

  • Iraq. Farr has consistently opposed the war in Iraq. He voted against the “Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002” that started the war. Farr is a cosponsor on several bills including H.Res. 1329, which supports a timetable for troop withdrawal, and H.R. 5626 and H.R 4959, which call for congressional approval for any long-term agreements with Iraq.[16]
  • Iran. Farr has been vocal in efforts to prevent military action against Iran. He is a cosponsor of H. Con. Res 33, which would require congressional approval before any incursion into Iran, and H.R. 3119, a bill to prohibit the use of funds for military operations in Iran.
  • Colombia. Farr has parlayed his experience in Colombia to become a congressional leader on Colombian affairs. He was an active supporter of rebalancing funds dedicated to Plan Colombia, the U.S. anti-drug effort, to include more support for economic redevelopment efforts. He has hosted a wide range of Colombian political leaders in his Washington office including current President Álvaro Uribe and former President Andrés Pastrana.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) comment

On February 26, 2008, at the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, Farr said "the public image of (the ICE agents)" has become "not (a) compassionate law enforcement agency but essentially a Gestapo-type agency that is knocking down doors"[17] when conducting raids on illegal immigrants. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Julie Myers responded to Farr's comments by saying, "We are not the Gestapo. The men and women of this agency have a very difficult job...and I think they do that with distinction and great honor.".[18] Farr replied that he knew and appreciated this, but reiterated that there is "there is a very ill will public opinion in the counties (he) represent(s), about ICE".

H.Res. 333

(L-R) Congressman Farr and Luci Baines Johnson at the Bixby Creek Bridge in 2015

On July 12, 2007, Farr joined 11 cosponsors (18 as of August 15, 2007) of H.Res. 333, introduced in Congress, that lays out three articles of impeachment against Vice President Dick Cheney. The bill maintains that the vice president purposely manipulated the intelligence process to deceive the citizens and Congress of the United States (1) by fabricating a threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and (2) about an alleged relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda in order to justify the use of the United States Armed Forces against the nation of Iraq in a manner damaging to our national security interests and (3) that Cheney has openly threatened aggression against the Republic of Iran absent any real threat to the United States. (see http://congress.gov for more details on H.Res. 333)

"Many residents in the Central Coast support the removal of Cheney from office, and I am proud to represent their values in Congress," Farr said in a brief statement.[19]

Awards

On July 30, 2007, Farr received the Senator David Pryor Special Achievement Award for his ongoing advocacy for communities with military bases presented by the Association of Defense Communities. The award is given to an individual who advocates for communities with active or closed military bases. "Communities with active or closed military bases face many special concerns, from land use to economic development to ordnance disposal," said Farr. "I have been lucky enough to assist in the transition efforts at Fort Ord, and that experience has helped me push those issues locally and nationwide." As vice-chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Farr successfully increased clean-up funds from $221 million to $271 million for military bases closed prior to 2005 [11].

Electoral history

California State Assembly District 28 election, 1980[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Farr 67,770 53.3
Republican Ann Welchner 48,001 37.7
Peace and Freedom Michael G. Zaharakis 6,294 5.0
Libertarian Donald E. Atkinson 5,073 4.0
Total votes 127,138 100
Turnout  
Democratic hold
California State Assembly District 28 election, 1982[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Farr (incumbent) 78,534 71.1
Republican Peter Cost 31,973 28.9
Total votes 110,507 100
Turnout  
Democratic hold
California State Assembly District 28 election, 1984[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Farr (incumbent) 94,612 72.9
Republican Lester Rate 35,235 27.1
Total votes 129,847 100
Turnout  
Democratic hold
California State Assembly District 28 election, 1986[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Farr (incumbent) 75,112 72.1
Republican Jeff Bosshard 29,025 27.9
Total votes 104,137 100
Turnout  
Democratic hold
California State Assembly District 28 election, 1988[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Farr (incumbent) 102,654 70.8
Republican James L. Skillicorn 42,283 29.2
Total votes 144,937 100
Turnout  
Democratic hold
California State Assembly District 28 election, 1990[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Farr (incumbent) 80,558 71.5
Republican West W. Walker 32,097 28.5
Total votes 112,655 100
Turnout  
Democratic hold
California State Assembly District 27 election, 1992[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Farr 101,695 60.7
Republican Susan Whitman 58,873 35.1
Peace and Freedom David Lucier 7,050 4.2
Total votes 167,618 100
Turnout  
Democratic gain from Republican
17th Congressional District of California Special election (round 1), April 13, 1993[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Farr 23,600 25.8
Democratic William W. Monning 17,050 18.6
Democratic Barbara Shipnuck 12,982 14.2
Republican Bill McCampbell 10,911 11.9
Republican Jess Brown 9,360 10.2
Republican Bob Ernst 5,126 5.6
Democratic Martin Vonnegut 2,985 3.3
Republican Barbara Honegger 1,855 2.0
Democratic Lancelot C. McClair 1,413 1.5
Republican John J. Shaw 927 1.0
Republican Carl Cieslinkowski 696 0.8
Republican Stephen Henderson 668 0.7
Republican Tom Shannon 656 0.7
Libertarian Richard J. Quigley 411 0.5
Democratic Shelley Reinisch 411 0.5
Democratic Kyle Samuels 394 0.4
Republican Darrin Smolinski 361 0.4
Green Kevin Gary Clark 323 0.4
Republican Louis Darrigo 318 0.3
American Independent Jerome N. "Jerry" McCready 293 0.3
Democratic Ed Frey 257 0.3
Independent Peter James 164 0.2
Independent James Ogle 120 0.1
Democratic Richard H. Kraus 101 0.1
Democratic Art Dunn 100 0.1
Democratic Jack Mitchener 85 0.1
Independent W. Gene Humphrey (write-in) 3 0.0
Total votes 91,570 100.00
Turnout  
17th Congressional District of California Special election (round 2), June 8, 1993[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Farr 53,675 52.3
Republican Bill McCampbell 43,774 42.6
American Independent Jerome N. "Jerry" McCready 1,689 1.7
Green Kevin Gary Clark 1,226 1.2
Libertarian Richard J. Quigley 948 0.9
Independent Peter James 943 0.9
Independent James Ogle 444 0.4
Independent Tom Shannon (write-in) 33 0.0
Total votes 102,732 100.00
Turnout  
Democratic hold
United States House of Representatives elections, 1994[29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Farr (incumbent) 87,222 52.2
Republican Bill McCampbell 74,380 44.5
Green E. Craig Coffin 5,591 3.3
Total votes 167,193 100
Turnout  
Democratic gain from Republican
United States House of Representatives elections, 1996[30]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Farr (incumbent) 115,116 58.9
Republican Jess Brown 73,856 37.8
Natural Law John Black 6,573 3.3
Total votes 195,545 100.0
Turnout  
Democratic hold
United States House of Representatives elections, 1998[31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Farr (incumbent) 103,719 64.5
Republican Bill McCampbell 52,470 32.7
Libertarian Rick Garrett 2,791 1.7
Natural Law Scott R. Hartley 1,710 1.1
Total votes 160,690 100.0
Turnout  
Democratic hold
United States House of Representatives elections, 2000[32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Farr (incumbent) 143,219 68.7
Republican Clint Engler 51,557 24.7
Green E. Craig Coffin 8,215 4.0
Libertarian Rick S. Garrett 2,510 1.2
Reform Larry Fenton 2,263 1.0
Natural Law Scott R. Hartley 996 0.4
Total votes 208,760 100.0
Turnout  
Democratic hold
United States House of Representatives elections, 2002[33]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Farr (incumbent) 101,632 68.1
Republican Clint Engler 40,334 27.1
Green Ray Glock-Grueneich 4,885 3.2
Libertarian Jascha Lee 2,418 1.6
independent (politician) Alan Shugart (write-in) 27 0.0
Turnout 149,296
Democratic hold
United States House of Representatives elections, 2004[34]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Farr (incumbent) 148,958 66.8
Republican Mark Risley 65,117 29.2
Green Ray Glock-Grueneich 3,645 1.7
Peace and Freedom Joe Williams 2,823 1.2
Libertarian Joel Smolen 2,607 1.1
independent (politician) David Mauricio Munoz (write-in) 75 0.0
Turnout 282,941
Democratic hold
United States House of Representatives elections, 2006[35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Farr (incumbent) 120,750 75.9
Republican Anthony R. DeMaio 35,932 22.5
independent (politician) Jeff Edward Taylor (write-in) 2,611 1.6
Total votes 163,293 100.0
Turnout  
Democratic hold
United States House of Representatives elections, 2008[36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Farr (incumbent) 168,907 73.9
Republican Jeff Taylor 59,037 25.9
independent (politician) Peter Andresen (write-in) 682 0.2
Total votes 228,626 100.0
Turnout  
Democratic hold
United States House of Representatives elections, 2010[37]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Farr 118,734 66.7
Republican Jeff Taylor 53,176 29.9
Green Eric Peterson 3,397 1.9
Libertarian Mary Larkin 2,742 1.5
independent (politician) Ronald Kabat (write-in) 90 0.0
Total votes 178,139 100.00
Turnout  
Democratic hold
United States House of Representatives elections, 2012[38]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Farr (incumbent) 172,996 74.1
Republican Jeff Taylor 60,556 25.9
Total votes 233,552 100.0
Turnout  
Democratic hold

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ "Rep. Sam Farr announces retirement"
  3. ^ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/reps/farr.htm
  4. ^ "A Congressman finds a model for urban recovery". "Worldview Magazine, Winter 2007.
  5. ^ Colombian Senate "Sam Farr, congresista demócrata de E. U. recibe condecoración del Senado". "August 28, 2007."
  6. ^ [2] "Ocean Champions Community Pushes for OCEANS-21 Bill," Reuters.
  7. ^ [3] "Remarks At the Civilian Response Corps Rollout," State Department.
  8. ^ [4] Congressman Farr's Caucuses
  9. ^ http://www.farr.house.gov/index.php/travelcaucus
  10. ^ [5] "Porter, Farr Host Travel and Tourism Economic Roundtable."
  11. ^ [6]
  12. ^ "Progressive Punch Rating". Retrieved October 27, 2007.
  13. ^ "Human Rights Campaign Scorecard" (PDF). Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  14. ^ [7] "Poll: Residents back oil drilling off state's coast," Salinas Californian"
  15. ^ [8] Immigration (Summer 2008 E-Newsletter)
  16. ^ Iraq and Iran (Summer 2008 E-Newsletter)
  17. ^ "Salinas lawmaker attacked over Gestapo remark". Retrieved March 7, 2008.
  18. ^ "House panel urges faster deportation of jailed illegal immigrants". Retrieved February 26, 2008.
  19. ^ [9]
  20. ^ Our Campaigns "California State Assembly 28 Race – November 4, 1980," (retrieved on August 11, 2009).
  21. ^ Our Campaigns "California State Assembly 28 Race – November 2, 1982," (retrieved on August 11, 2009).
  22. ^ Our Campaigns "California State Assembly 28 Race – November 6, 1984," (retrieved on August 11, 2009).
  23. ^ Our Campaigns "California State Assembly 28 Race – November 4, 1986," (retrieved on August 11, 2009).
  24. ^ Our Campaigns "California State Assembly 28 Race – November 8, 1988," (retrieved on August 11, 2009).
  25. ^ Our Campaigns "California State Assembly 28 Race – November 6, 1990," (retrieved on August 11, 2009).
  26. ^ Our Campaigns "California State Assembly 27 Race – November 3, 1992," (retrieved on August 11, 2009).
  27. ^ Our Campaigns "California District 17 – Special Election Primary Race – April 13, 1993," (retrieved on August 9, 2009).
  28. ^ Our Campaigns "California District 17 – Special Election Race – June 8, 1993," (retrieved on August 9, 2009).
  29. ^ Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 8, 1994," (retrieved on August 11, 2009).
  30. ^ Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 1996," (retrieved on August 11, 2009).
  31. ^ Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1998," (retrieved on August 11, 2009).
  32. ^ Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2000," (retrieved on August 11, 2009).]
  33. ^ 2002 Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 2002," (retrieved on August 11, 2009).]
  34. ^ Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2004," (retrieved on August 11, 2009).]
  35. ^ Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006," (retrieved on August 11, 2009).]
  36. ^ Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008," (retrieved on August 11, 2009).]
  37. ^ Office of the California Secretary of State (retrieved on January 26, 2014).]
  38. ^ Office of the California Secretary of State (retrieved on January 26, 2014).]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sam Farr.
California Assembly
Preceded by California State Assemblyman, 28th District
1980–1992 		Succeeded by
Preceded by California State Assemblyman, 27th District
1992–1993 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 17th congressional district
June 8, 1993–January 3, 2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 20th congressional district
January 3, 2013–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States Representatives by seniority
54th 		Succeeded by
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