Candidate for
United States Representative; District 17

Sam Farr, a fifth-generation Californian, represents the state?s beautiful 17th Congressional District, encompassing San Benito County, Monterey County, and parts of Santa Cruz County. The health and wealth of this region are attributable to Rep. Farr's focus on the environment, education and the economy. Taken collectively, these "three e's" have defined the congressman's record and propelled the economic growth of the 17th District during his tenure.

Once beset by a lackluster economy and the biggest military base closing in the history of the United States, the Central Coast has become a national model for sustainable development, base conversion, marine science research and post-secondary foreign language education. The robust economic vitality on the Central Coast is buttressed by revenues of $2.4 billion from agriculture, and approximately $1.5 billion from tourism. A member of the House Appropriations Committee , Rep. Farr serves on two key subcommittees that enable him to promote and protect the interests of his region: agriculture and military construction.

Working with colleagues from both sides of the aisle, Rep. Farr has helped engineer what amounts to a total economic turn-around of the region. Since being elected to Congress in 1993, Farr has obtained more than $65 million in defense conversion funds to start a new California State University at the closed Fort Ord military base. This university now provides a major economic stimulus for the region.

Rep. Farr has served his district and others with legislative initiatives that provide tax incentives to keep America's farmland in productive use. He has also worked to shore up our democratic government with comprehensive campaign finance reform. And Rep. Farr has bolstered our country's land and ocean resources with initiatives to save essential fish habitat and enhance funding for national marine sanctuaries.

Rep. Farr was the author of the original Oceans Act, a version of which passed Congress and was signed into law on Aug. 8, 2000. Patterned after legislation that created the Stratton Commission more than 30 years ago, it will establish an inventory of our nation's coastal and marine resources, ocean programs and policies, federal funding priorities, infrastructure requirements and technological opportunities

Before coming to 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.

His accomplishments included passage of laws to expand and develop the State Park system; stop offshore oil drilling and hold polluters fully financially responsible for oil spill damages; give businesses incentives to develop new technologies for environmental clean-up; place computers in public school classrooms, and study the impacts of defense conversion on the state's economy. Sam Farr was named Legislator of the Year nine times.

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.

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. The Farrs have one grown daughter, Jessica.