Congressman Sam Farr: “It’s time to come home”

In a major announcement, surrounded by family and friends, Congressman Sam Farr announced he will retire at the end of his current term.

Farr (D-California) is the Central Coast’s longest serving member of Congress. He will retire in January 2017, marking more than two decades in Congress.

“For years my wife Shary has asked me to come home,” said Rep. Farr. “She’s right. It’s time. It’s time to come home and spend time with her and with my daughter Jessica and my grandkids Ella and Zach.”

Farr’s career in public service dates back to 1964 when he was in the Peace Corps. He served as a Monterey County Supervisor for six years and then spent 12 years in the California Assembly before being elected to Congress.

Among his many accomplishments, Farr said one of his proudest moments was helping establish California State University, Monterey Bay.

“I think education is a way out,” Farr said. “You also have to have access to healthcare. So housing, healthcare and education have been sort of my big mantras.”

Farr is also the ranking member on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, an important title for the “Salad Bowl.”

Farr said he hopes to see Congress pass comprehensive immigration reform in his lifetime. His chief of staff said he will be greatly missed.

“He’s interested in finding the big picture, like eliminating those root causes of poverty, and asking staff — what do you think, let’s go out and do it then,” Chief of Staff Rochelle Dornatt said. “Maybe we’ll try something nobody else has tried before. So it’s been a fun run.”

Farr said he looks forward to becoming a full-time babysitter for his grandkids, fishing, gardening and skiing. He also said he looks forward to continuing his public service on a more local level, something his wife is also looking forward to.

“Sam has always loved local politics and his district,” Shary Farr said. “So for him, the retirement means being closer to home and still being very involved.”