LWV LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
Los Angeles County, CA November 7, 2000 Election
Smart Voter Full Biography for Bill T. Farley

Candidate for
United States Representative; District 26

This information is provided by the candidate

I am a native of Yonkers, NY. My family were Republicans and my uncle served as a judge in that city. I was educated in Yonkers public schools before winning scholarships to the Horace Mann School in New York City and the Canterbury School in New Milford, Connecticut, for junior high school and high school respectively. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Economics from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.

I began my professional career as a newspaper reporter in New York and subsequently served as news director for two local radio stations. I was hired as a writer/publicist for the ABC Radio Networks and promoted to network television positions first with with ABC News then with ABC Sports. During this time, I had the experience of working on such assignments as the Apollo moon-landing program, Presidential campaigns and elections, coverage of the Vietnam war and most major sports events throughout the United States.

I moved to California in 1976 to continue my work with ABC and, two years later, left to form a new marketing company with another former ABC colleague. In 1984, I returned to television sports as Manager of Information for the International Broadcast Center of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

I joined my current employer, Playboy Enterprises, Inc. in 1985 as the Manager of the Public Relations department. I subsequently was named Director and National Director of Communications for this worldwide media and marketing organization. I am a principal spokesperson for the company and have special responsilities for the company's founder and Chairman Emeritus, Hugh M. Hefner.

For nearly twenty years, I have owned and operated my own editorial services business, now known as Night Writer. Most of my clients over the years have been in the music and real estate industries.

I am a former athlete with a record-setting career in competitive swimming and various varsity letters and other honors in sports including football,track and field and tennis. I continue to pursue weight-training.

As a musician, I formed my first rock band at the age of 13 and have played with numerous best-forgotten groups over the years. I still try to keep my chops with sessions on the keyboard and guitar.

I was fortunate enough to marry the former Judith Royce Speizman in 1997. Judy is a District Sales Representative for the California State Lottery, and serves as my campaign manager.

I co-authored the book "Apollo 11: Man's Greatest Adventure" and "The Unofficial Guide to the 1984 Summer Games." I have several book and television projects in the works.

Over the years, I have been honored with quite a few certificates of appreciation and other awards in connection with my journalistic work, most of which have disappeared or been stashed in the garage. I am ostensibly listed in "Who's Who in the West," "Who's Who in Entertainment" and "Who's Who in Media" but cannot be sure as it never seemed worthwhile to purchase these expensive, ego-stroking books.

This campaign for the position of US Representative from the 26th CD marks my first foray into the political arena.

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ca/state Created from information supplied by the candidate: April 13, 2000 16:07
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