Central Coast Rep. Sam Farr Announces Retirement

Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, plans to retire after more than 40 years in public office in what he called the “best job in the world” to spend more time with his family.

Farr will not seek re-election in 2016 for his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, which he has held for the past 22 years representing Central Coast communities spanning through Monterey, Santa Cruz, Santa Clarita and San Benito counties.

He made the announcement during a news conference Thursday at the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas with his wife Shary by his side.

Once his term ends in January 2017, he plans to become a full-time babysitter for his grandchildren, Farr said.

Farr, a Democrat, was elected to Congress in 1993 in a special election and won against 26 other candidates, succeeding Leon Panetta, who eventually became U.S. Secretary of Defense.

When Farr first entered national office, the district lacked higher education options other than the University of California at Santa Cruz, while Fort Ord, a former U.S. Army post, was set to close.

Farr said one of his proudest moments in Congress was securing money to develop the former Fort Ord to establish California State University, Monterey Bay, which opened for classes in 1995, and constructing a Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense outpatient clinic expected to open next year.

Another standout accomplishment in his career was authoring legislation to establish Pinnacles National Park, Farr said.

In the late 1990s, Farr helped host the first National Ocean Conference in Monterey, attended by then-President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore.

He has worked to promote a statewide initiative bringing salad bars to schools and connecting farm workers with health care and housing.

Farr started his career in elected office as a Monterey County supervisor representing the fifth district for six years, then became a state assemblyman for 12 years. His father, Fred Farr, was a longtime state senator.

“I’ve been in elected office for some 42 years, never having lost an election,” Farr said.

“As someone born and raised on the Central Coast, Sam Farr has dedicated his life to serving the needs of this area. From the Monterey County Board of Supervisors to the State Legislature to the Congress, he has for over 40 years fought to protect our quality of life,” Panetta said in a statement Thursday. “I was proud to have Sam follow me in the Congress. When his service is combined with that of his father Fred, the Farrs will have left a legacy of public service that will never be forgotten. We wish him and his wife Shary the very best in the future.”

A longtime resident of Carmel, Farr said growing up in the Monterey Bay area where he attended public school allowed him to gain an “incredible understanding” of the land and people.

Farr said there is still “unfinished business” in the 14 months left of his term. His plans include work to continue lifting people out of poverty and increasing agriculture and he hopes Congress can pass comprehensive immigration reform.

Farr expressed his gratitude for the public’s support throughout the years to represent the “best district,” which has received national and international attention.

Farr realized he will be 75 years old on the Fourth of July. When he questioned what he wanted to do with the rest of his life, his wife said the answer was to spend time with his family.

During his retirement, he also plans on fishing, skiing and gardening, but most importantly he wants to continue helping people.

“I’m going to be here to be an activist and I’m not going to give up my passion to make things work better,” he said.

--Bay City News Service