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Sam Farr

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Sam Farr
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from California
In office
June 8, 1993 – January 3, 2017
Preceded byLeon Panetta
Succeeded byJimmy Panetta
Constituency17th district (1993–2013)
20th district (2013–2017)
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 27th district
In office
December 7, 1992 – June 14, 1993
Preceded bySal Cannella
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
ParentFred Farr (father)
ResidenceCarmel, California
Alma materWillamette University, Santa Clara University, Monterey Institute of International Studies
Sam Farr's voice
Sam Farr honors retiring members of California's House delegation
Recorded December 12, 2012

Samuel Sharon Farr[1] (born July 4, 1941) is an American politician who was the U.S. representative for California's 17th (1993–2013) and 20th congressional districts (2013–17). 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 life and education

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Farr was born in San Francisco, the son of Janet Emerson (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 from 1955 to 1967.[4]

He was educated at Willamette University, Santa Clara University and the Monterey Institute of International Studies. Farr is a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity at Willamette University.

Early career

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Peace Corps service

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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.[5]

While Farr was serving in Colombia, his mother died from cancer. Following her death, his father visited with Farr's sisters. While riding horses, his sister Nancy was thrown and hit her head. She died on the operating table in a Colombian hospital.[6]

Since his Peace Corps service ended, Farr has visited Colombia often. He went there for his honeymoon and has returned several other times for both personal and official business. During a trip in 2007, Farr spoke before the Colombian Congress and was awarded the Orden del Congreso de Colombia.[7]

State and local political career

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Farr's public service career began in the California State 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.[6]

In 1980 he was elected to a seat in the 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]

U.S. House of Representatives

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Earlier photo of Congressman Farr
Representative Farr shaking hands with Speaker of the House Tom Foley during his swearing in ceremony

Farr was elected to the House of Representatives in a 1993 special election. He succeeded Leon Panetta, who resigned to become President Bill Clinton's budget director. Farr defeated Republican Bill McCampbell with 52 percent of the vote, and then was elected to his first full term in 1994, defeating McCampbell again with 52 percent of the vote. Both contests were the closest in the district since Panetta claimed the seat for the Democrats in 1977, and to date are the only times since then that a Republican has crossed the 40 percent mark. The district quickly reverted to form, and Farr was re-elected ten more times with no substantive opposition, never dropping below 64 percent of the vote.

Legislation

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  • Farr introduced the "Oceans Conservation, Education, and National Strategy for the 21st Century Act" (H.R. 21 Archived October 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine) 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; create an ocean advisor in the president's Cabinet; create 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.[8]
  • Farr's "Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian Management Act of 2008" (H.R. 1084 Archived December 20, 2014, at the Wayback Machine) 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] supported 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.[9]

Caucus work

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Sam Farr meets with Jack O'Neill

Farr was 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.[10]

He served as co-chair of the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus with Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Florida). Farr actively supported 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.[11][12]

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

Other leadership positions

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Farr served on the House Democracy Assistance Commission, a group established by the House and 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."[13]

He also is the former chairman of the California Democratic congressional delegation, the largest state delegation in Congress.[citation needed]

Committee assignments

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Political positions

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Domestic issues

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Farr during the 111th Congress
  • Farr is a proponent of ocean protection and conservation. In addition to H.R. 21, Farr introduced the Southern Sea Otter Recovery and Research Act (H.R. 3639) and the Clean Cruise Ship Act (H.R. 6434 Archived October 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine).
  • He 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.[17]
  • Farr has worked closely with Central Coast cities and the Army on the re-use 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.
  • He 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.[18]

Foreign Affairs

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  • Farr 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 cosponsored several bills including H.Res. 1329 Archived October 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, which supported a timetable for troop withdrawal, and H.R. 5626 Archived October 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine and H.R 4959 Archived October 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, which called for congressional approval for any long-term agreements with Iraq.[19]
  • He was vocal in efforts to prevent military action against Iran, cosponsoring H. Con. Res 33, which would require congressional approval before any incursion into Iran, and H.R. 3119 Archived October 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, a bill to prohibit the use of funds for military operations in Iran.
  • Farr 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 hosted a wide range of Colombian political leaders in his Washington office including then-President Álvaro Uribe and former President Andrés Pastrana.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) comment

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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"[20] when conducting raids on illegal immigrants. Julie Myers, assistant secretary of Homeland Security for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 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.".[21] 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

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

On July 12, 2007, Farr joined 11 cosponsors of H.Res. 333, which laid out three articles of impeachment against Vice President Dick Cheney. The bill maintained 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 had openly threatened aggression against the Republic of Iran absent any real threat to the United States.

"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.[22]

Awards

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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.

Personal life

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Farr is married to the former Shary Baldwin and has one daughter, Jessica. He is an Episcopalian.[23]

Electoral history

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California State Assembly District 28 election, 1980[24]
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[25]
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[26]
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[27]
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[28]
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[29]
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[30]
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[31]
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[32]
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[33]
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[34]
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[35]
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[36]
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[37]
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[38]
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[39]
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[40]
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[41]
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[42]
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

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  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ Marcos, Cristina (November 12, 2015). "Rep. Sam Farr announces retirement". The Hill.
  3. ^ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/reps/farr.htm [user-generated source]
  4. ^ Fred Farr, SF Gate, June 12, 1997. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  5. ^ "A Congressman finds a model for urban recovery" Archived February 10, 2013, at archive.today. "Worldview Magazine, Winter 2007.
  6. ^ a b "Sam Farr's Monterey County legacy". The Salinas Californian. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  7. ^ Colombian Senate "Sam Farr, congresista demócrata de E. U. recibe condecoración del Senado"[permanent dead link]. "August 28, 2007."
  8. ^ "Ocean Champions Community Pushes for "OCEANS-21" Bill". Reuters. March 6, 2008. Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  9. ^ "Remarks At the Civilian Response Corps Rollout". July 16, 2008. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  10. ^ "The Online Office of Congressman Farr - Congressman Farr's Caucuses". Archived from the original on July 30, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2008. Congressman Farr's Caucuses
  11. ^ "Home". Archived from the original on December 28, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  12. ^ "PORTER, FARR HOST TRAVEL AND TOURISM ECONOMIC ROUNDTABLE | Politicker NV". Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2008. "Porter, Farr Host Travel and Tourism Economic Roundtable."
  13. ^ "House Democracy Partnership (HDP)". House Democracy Partnership (HDP).
  14. ^ "Counting and Tabulation of the Electoral Vote by Congress - 2004". www.thegreenpapers.com. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  15. ^ "Progressive Punch Rating". Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. Retrieved October 27, 2007.
  16. ^ "Human Rights Campaign Scorecard" (PDF). Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  17. ^ http://thecalifornian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080731/NEWS01/807310304/1002 [permanent dead link] "Poll: Residents back oil drilling off state's coast," Salinas Californian"
  18. ^ "The Online Office of Congressman Farr - Immigration (Summer 2008 E-Newsletter)". Archived from the original on July 30, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2008. Immigration (Summer 2008 E-Newsletter)
  19. ^ Iraq and Iran (Summer 2008 E-Newsletter) Archived July 30, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ "Salinas lawmaker attacked over Gestapo remark". March 3, 2008. Retrieved March 7, 2008.
  21. ^ "House panel urges faster deportation of jailed illegal immigrants". Retrieved February 26, 2008.
  22. ^ "MontereyHerald.com : - Farr signs resolution to impeach Cheney". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
  23. ^ "THE RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION OF EACH MEMBER OF CONGRESS" (PDF). Pew Research Center.
  24. ^ Our Campaigns "California State Assembly 28 Race – November 4, 1980," (retrieved on August 11, 2009).
  25. ^ Our Campaigns "California State Assembly 28 Race – November 2, 1982," (retrieved on August 11, 2009).
  26. ^ Our Campaigns "California State Assembly 28 Race – November 6, 1984," (retrieved on August 11, 2009).
  27. ^ Our Campaigns "California State Assembly 28 Race – November 4, 1986," (retrieved on August 11, 2009).
  28. ^ Our Campaigns "California State Assembly 28 Race – November 8, 1988," (retrieved on August 11, 2009).
  29. ^ Our Campaigns "California State Assembly 28 Race – November 6, 1990," (retrieved on August 11, 2009).
  30. ^ Our Campaigns "California State Assembly 27 Race – November 3, 1992," (retrieved on August 11, 2009).
  31. ^ Our Campaigns "California District 17 – Special Election Primary Race – April 13, 1993," (retrieved on August 9, 2009).
  32. ^ Our Campaigns "California District 17 – Special Election Race – June 8, 1993," (retrieved on August 9, 2009).
  33. ^ 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).
  34. ^ 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).
  35. ^ 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).
  36. ^ 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)
  37. ^ 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).]
  38. ^ 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).]
  39. ^ 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).]
  40. ^ 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).]
  41. ^ Office of the California Secretary of State Archived May 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (retrieved on January 26, 2014).]
  42. ^ Office of the California Secretary of State (retrieved on January 26, 2014).]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sam Farr.
California Assembly
Preceded by California State Assemblyman, 28th District
December 1, 1980 – November 30, 1992 		Succeeded by
Preceded by California State Assemblyman, 27th District
December 7, 1992– June 14, 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–January 3, 2017 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative 		Succeeded byas Former US Representative
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