LAKEPORT >> Anthony Farrington, long time District 4 Supervisor announced on Friday that he will not be seeking re-election for the post.
Farrington has been a fixture in local government and served as the board’s Chair during last year’s catastrophic wild fires. He was elected in 2000 and sworn into office January 2001. He has been elected to office four times, and in his last contested election he garnered over 70 percent of the vote.
Over the years he has spearheaded a number of policies and issues. He was instrumental in pushing for funding needed to complete the first environmental impact report that would allow the harvesting and treatment of lake weeds. He also led the charge for the county to file for surface water rights to Clear Lake. There currently is an application for appropriative water rights pending to secure 5,950 acre feet of water. In addition, Farrington was the architect behind the sales tax for the lake in order to secure local funding to invest in Clear Lake and its watershed; and protect the lake from invasive mussels.
“It has been and honor and privilege to serve this great community for the past 15 years,” Farrington said. “I am proud of my record and the service that I have provided to the residents of Lake County. I have always done my best in going to bat for them when they had a problem or issue with local, state, or the federal governments. However, the time has come for me to take a break from public life, and focus my attention to my growing law practice which is now expanding into Mendocino County.”
Farrington added that the break from public life will allow him to pursue hobbies. He likes to restore antique cars and plans to develop his own private wine label.
As a supervisor, Farrington oftn voiced support for the development and expansion of vineyard development and wineries in the community. In particular, Farrington said, “I am most proud of my advocacy in standing up for Jim Fetzer and his development of Ceago in Nice; and Kaj Ahlmann, and his family’s development of Six Sigma in Lower Lake.”
Both projects had met with initial opposition.
During his years of service, Farrington was a major proponent in the development of a water resources element and agriculture element that created a blue print for the county general plan to preserve and protect water resources and agriculture. Farrington these efforts preserved the 40 acre minimum parcel limit and open space preventing the development of 5 acre mini ranches.
Farrington also has been a staunch opponent to the City of Lakeport’s efforts to annex the South Main Street and Soda Bay corridor. His position against this proposal occasionally caused friction between him and city council members and staff. Farrington has publicly stated on a number of occasions that he makes no apologies for standing against the proposal.
“The annexation of this corridor is a disservice to city residents who already receive limited public services,” he stated.
Farrington admits at times he has been a lighting rod due to his more moderate to liberal position on social issues, while remaining fiscally conservative. Farrington was a proponent to bring back family planning services to Lake County due to Lake County’s high teen pregnancy rates; he has also supported needle exchange programs for drug addicts; and is a big proponent of substance abuse treatment and mental health programs. Farrington also has a record on siding with the local tribes when it comes to development in areas near sacred sites. Farrington helped negotiate local Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the Big Valley; Habematolel and Robinson tribes in the development of their casinos.
One year, Farrington stood alone and voted against a budget that was not structurally balanced. This position received national attention when Fox Business News which resulted in Fox news featuring a story that included Farrington and Governor Chris Christie from New Jersey. Fox called Farrington a “fiscal hawk.”
Throughout his career has served on a number of committees. He represented the county at the state level serving on the California State Association of Counties (CSAC); and Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC).
During his service Farrington led efforts and secured local funding for the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program for abused children; and spearheaded efforts to form an animal advisory committee where he championed a mandatory spay and neutering ordinance and a new animal shelter. Also, Farrington was the first Chair to bring animals into the board chambers each Tuesday at the beginning of each board meeting generate maximum exposure for adoption.
He currently serves on the Marymount Long Range Planning Committee.
Farrington says he “plans on staying in Lake County,” and stands ready to assist his successor in completing the programs and projects that he has initiated. In particular, Farrington said he wants to see the county move forward with the development of a veteran’s homeless shelter on county owned property in the city of Clearlake.
Last year Farrington received approval from the board to develop this shelter.
He also wants to see his successor make the lake a priority and continue to search for local, state and federal funding to grow existing programs. In addition, he hopes the next District 4 supervisor will support the implementation of Lake County’s Community Choice Aggregation program, which he claims would result in lower utility rates, reduced consumptions of fossil fuels, and set Lake County up to be a net exporter of green energy.
