Sam Farr

From KeyWiki

Sam Farr is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 17th district of California.

Background

Sam Farr was born on the 4th of July, 1941. He is a long-time resident of Carmel, California and is married to Shary Baldwin Farr.

Sam Farr began his career in public service in 1964 with a two-year commitment in the Peace Corps in Colombia, South America. Sam Farr graduated from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 1963 and attended the Monterey Institute of International Studies and Santa Clara University. He is fluent in Spanish.^[1]

Political career

Before replacing Leon Panetta the House of Representatives in 1993, Sam Farr served on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, and then 12 and one-half years in the California State Assembly , being re-elected six times with overwhelming majorities. As a member of the Assembly, Sam Farr chaired the Assembly Local Government Committee as well as the Committee on Economic Development and New Technologies. He was also a member of the standing committees on education, natural resources, and finance and insurance. He was recognized as a leader in legislative efforts for educational excellence, environmental protection, economic development and new technologies.^[2]

Dining with Fidel Castro

In February 2002 a delegation^[3]of California Democratic Party Congressmen and women including Sam Farr, Diane Watson, Bob Filner and Mike Thompson, together with singer Carole King and representatives of California's rice and wine industries visited Havana as part of the latest effort to change U.S. policy toward Cuba.

Carole King serenaded Fidel Castro with "You've Got a Friend" at a weekend dinner, and U.S. representatives from California shared wines from Napa and Sonoma --

"We ought to be having a better tone about building bridges rather than building walls," Sam Farr, Democratic U.S. representative from Carmel, said.

They said their dinner with Castro at the Palace of the Revolution stretched from 9 p.m. Sunday until about 4:30 a.m. Monday. During the meal, King also performed a new song, "Love Makes the World."

Supported by Council for a Livable World

The Council for a Livable World, founded in 1962 by long-time socialist activist and alleged Soviet agent, Leo Szilard, is a non-profit advocacy organization that seeks to "reduce the danger of nuclear weapons and increase national security", primarily through supporting progressive, congressional candidates who support their policies. The Council supported Sam Farr in his successful House of Representatives run as candidate for California.^[4]

Congressional Progressive Caucus

As of February 20 2009 Sam Farr was listed as a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.^[5]

Calling on Israeli Govt. to lift Gaza Travel Ban

On Dec. 22, 2009, thirty-three U.S. Representatives wrote to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, calling on her to request that the Israeli Government end the ban on student travel from Gaza to the West Bank. Sam Farr was one of the signatories of the letter.^[6] The entire letter together with a complete list of signatories can be read by clicking here.

Supported Lifting the Gaza Blockade

On Jan. 27, 2010, U.S. Representatives Keith Ellison and Jim McDermott led 52 other members of Congress in signing a letter addressed to President Barack Obama, calling for him to use diplomatic pressure to resolve the blockade affecting Gaza. Sam Farr was one of the signatories of the letter. ^[7] The entire letter together with a complete list of signatories can be read by clicking here.

Staff

The following have worked as staff either past or present:^[8]

External links

• Farr's website with the House of Representatives

References