UC Davis Grad Farrington Announces Candidacy for Assembly District 4

Anthony Farrington is adding his name to the list of candidates running for California's soon-to-be vacant and newly-redrawn Assembly District 4, currently represented by Assembly member Mariko Yamada who will be termed out in 2014. Farrington is a registered Democrat.

Farrington, a fourth-term Lake County Board of Supervisors member, is an International Relations graduate from the University of California at Davis. He also holds a law degree from Concord Law School.

For more on Farrington, he and his staff have put together the following statement regarding his candidacy announcement:

Farrington managed the state water rights program for the Regional Council of Rural Counties, and also worked as an educator prior to being elected.  Farrington is currently a Board Member for the Napa-Lake Workforce Investment Board, the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), and the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC).  In addition, Farrington practices law as a private attorney.

The newly drawn Fourth District includes all of Lake and Napa counties, and portions of Yolo, Colusa, Solano, and Sonoma Counties.  Farrington’s pioneer family has called northern California home for over 160 years. His great Grandfather George Major Hanson who led his family to California was a State Senator and personal friend of Abraham Lincoln where he served in the Illinois State Legislature, and then as Director of Indian Affairs under President Lincoln. Besides Lake County, Farrington has also lived in Yolo, Napa, and Colusa counties.  Farrington said, “my work and life experience make me a unique fit for this newly drawn district.” He further stated, “My ties to each community will ensure that each community will have a strong voice.” As a candidate, Farrington offers the voters an opportunity to vote for somebody who has a track record of success and who can provide solutions. As an Assemblymember, Farrington will work hard to be accessible, and provide excellent constituent services.

In 2012, Farrington garnered over 70% of the vote, and in fact received one of the highest percentages of votes in the state where an incumbent was challenged. Farrington attributes much of his political success in his ability to build consensus. Farrington has proved that he can reach across the aisle and work with members of the Republican Party.  Farrington often quips that his consensus building skills has even led him to “walk down the aisle with a Republican.” Farrington affectionately refers to his fiancée Jacquelyn St. Martin as a “Texas Republican.” St. Martin is originally from Texas but moved to Napa in pursuit of her passion and dream to work in the wine industry. Farrington said, “She and I do not agree on many issues, however we have learned to work together despite our differences. People are sick and tired of political bickering and partisan politics, they want representatives that can work together and provide solutions, not roadblocks.”  

Farrington added, “I believe that the state needs to focus on core services to the public, which include education, public safety, safeguarding our environment, and being business friendly.” Farrington strongly believes that the state should look at the reallocation of tax resources which would give greater discretion in spending to local elected officials and school districts.  As a former educator, and now County Supervisor, he said he knows that “teachers and local elected officials know best how to meet the needs of our students and local residents, not politicians in Sacramento.”

Farrington said that there are a number of issues facing the Fourth District; however the main issues are the economy, and the need to create a good environment for businesses to succeed and thrive; strong support for agriculture, in particular preservation of precious agricultural land; and water, especially now that many state leaders are pushing for the construction of dual tunnels through the Bay-Delta which would transport water from northern California to southern California.  Farrington is concerned that this project will threaten northern California water supplies, and devastate Bay-Delta wetlands and fisheries.  “This project is bad for northern California, period,” he said. In addition, Farrington wants to make infrastructure a priority. Farrington said that “the state has lost its way when it comes to providing adequate infrastructure and investment in our roads, water, and sewer. Investing in infrastructure is not “politically expedient for politicians,” he said, explaining that by the time money is appropriated, and the projects are completed there are different politicians at the ribbon cutting ceremony. “Most politicians are looking for quick fixes.”

Farrington is proud of his many accomplishments while serving on the Board of Supervisors which include a balanced budget during his 12 years in office; his leadership and support for agriculture; preservation of open space, and creating new wetlands; securing water supplies; bringing business to California, and providing leadership and support in green energy by building the largest municipal solar array facility in the western United States - Lake County is a net exporter of energy. Farrington is also proud that he is not tied to Sacramento or the political machine that often produces cookie-cutter candidates, and attempts to make every election a coronation. Farrington concluded, “I think I provide an opportunity for people to look at politics differently.  I am not a candidate who will say and do anything to get elected. I have always wanted to dedicate my life to be of service to others. That is what I offer as a candidate, and that is my motive for running.”