Former City of Goleta Mayor and Councilmember, James Baker Farr passed away on September 21, 2024, just days after his 79th birthday. Jim is an important part of the City’s history having been supportive of the effort to get the City incorporated in 2002 and then serving on the Council for four years from 2012-2016, the last year as mayor.
While you can read a full account of Jim Farr’s life in this obituary. Jim’s relationship with Goleta first began in 1977 when he was accepted into the Ph.D. program in American History at UCSB. He moved to Goleta with his former wife Doreen who later became a Santa Barbara County
Supervisor (2009-2016). Upon completing his Doctorate and graduating with his Ph.D from UCSB, he took on an adjunct teaching position at San Jose State. However, due to declining health issues stemming from polycystic kidney disease (PKD), Jim had to step away from his career for dialysis treatment and eventually a kidney transplant.
Following his transplant, he and Doreen moved back to the area. While he got involved in many different efforts, a pivotal one for the City’s history was the purchase of the “Goleta Valley Voice” a newspaper that provided an important communication resource to the area. The “Goleta Valley Voice” strongly endorsed the passage of Goleta cityhood on the November 2001 ballot as well as City Council candidates who all went on to be elected.
In 2012 Jim decided to run for his own seat on the Goleta City Council. He ran unopposed and served for four years, the last year as Goleta’s mayor in 2016. That same year he was also honored by the then Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce as Goleta’s “Man of the Year” for his many contributions and years of service to the Goleta Valley community.
In 2015, Jim suffered a stroke and due to health impacts did not run for re-election, however his passion for Goleta lived on.
We had the fortune of interviewing Jim Farr for the City’s 20-Year Reflections Video in 2022. Here is a video clip of what he said: https://youtu.be/B7hB_dQLhZ0.
Mayor Paula Perotte said, “Jim’s contributions to Goleta are many, from his support of Goleta Now! and the successful drive for cityhood, to his providing Goletans a voice, literally so, with his ownership and running of the Goleta Valley Voice. I also want to honor his many contributions not only on Goleta’s City Council, but also personally for his mentorship of me when I joined the City Council. He will be missed.”
Former Goleta City Manager Michelle Greene said, “Jim Farr was truly a pleasure to work with during his time in office as a councilmember and later as mayor. Jim cared deeply about Goleta and its residents, and always kept the community’s welfare in the forefront of the policy making process. He was a kind and considerate leader, who warmly encouraged residents and City staff to voice their thoughts on the issues facing the City. I learned a lot about Goleta from Jim, who readily shared his wealth of knowledge about the community’s rich history. He was a talented storyteller who never failed draw an audience with a twinkle in his eye, a warm smile, and his wry wit. I feel honored to have known and worked with him.”
Former Mayor and City Councilmember Roger Aceves worked closely with Jim Farr during those years and said, “I enjoyed working with him on Council. He always saw the big picture when making council decisions, he was always looking out for the unfortunate and those impacted the most.”
A service is being held for Jim Farr on Friday, October 4 at 11:00 a.m. at Welch-Ryce-Haider Chapel at 450 Ward Drive in Goleta.
We want to express our condolences to Jim’s family and friends as well as our heartfelt appreciation to Jim for all he has done for Goleta.
Photo above: Jim Farr by Paul Wellman
Goleta City Council in 2015 (left-to-right): Michael Bennett, Tony Vallejo, Paula Perotte, Roger Aceves and Jim Farr
Jim (center) at the dias in Goleta City Council Chambers