About Pat Farr
Pat Farr

Pat Farr

Pat and Debi Farr have a long history of service in Lane County and Oregon. Both have served on the Bethel School Board (Debi currently) and in the Oregon House of Representatives. In addition to current service as a Lane County Commissioner, Pat has served on the Eugene City Council. With extensive school, private and community action service, Debi and Pat are long-time pillars of the community.


Pat has been elected to the Oregon House of Representatives, Lane County Board of Commissioners, the Eugene City Council and the Bethel (District 52) School Board. Legislatively he was Assistant Majority Leader, vice-chair of the House Education Committee, a member of the House Revenue Committee and on the joint interim committee on Tax Reform and Education.


His current committee and commission work includes National Association of Counties (NACo) Health, Human Services and Veterans steering committees; Chair of the Oregon Association of Counties (AOC)/Oregon Health Authority(OHA) Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC); AOC Board of Directors; AOC Health and Human Services, Public Safety and Legislative steering committees; Vice-chair and acting Chair of the Lane County Poverty and Homelessness Board; Lane County Community Action Agency; Lane County Continuum of Care Agency; Lane Multi- agency Collaborative steering committee, All-In Lane County; Metropolitan Policy Commission (MPC); Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission and other action committees.


His community service includes Oregon Food Bank Board of Directors; SELCO Credit Union Board of Directors; Health Practices Research Northwest (HPRNW) Board of Directors; the Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force (statutory); the Oregon Commission on Child Care (statutory); the National Home Center Industry Training Advisory Council; Bethel School District Budget Committee and other action agencies.


Pat Farr left the Oregon Legislature to become Executive Director of FOOD for Lane County. At FFLC he guided the rescue and recovery of the fiscally and publicly troubled agency from near-insolvency. Together with a strong staff he led the now- strong nonprofit to its status as a secure and sustained leader in Oregon human service work. During the 110th US Congress Pat Farr was recognized on the Floor of the US Senate for having dedicated himself to “bettering the life of Oregonians.”


​
In private industry he worked nearly two decades with Jerry’s Home Improvement Centers in executive management as it grew from a small hardware store/lumber yard into an industry giant. He worked at Tillamook Farmers Co-op, Gray’s Garden Centers and with the Lindholm Company Consulting agency.


His public service has included Eugene Human Rights Commission; Lane County Human Services Commission; Homes for Good (formerly HACSA) Board of Directors; Travel Lane County Board of Directors; Lane County Fair Board; Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce LGAC and the Lane County Community Health Council.


Pat and Debi have three sons, all graduates of Willamette High School. They have a grandchild at Meadowview School in Bethel. Pat has been published in trade journals, newspaper and currently has a business development history book and a novel in progress.


Community Service / Involvement

  • Lane County Commissioner, 2013-Present
  • Lane County Poverty and Homelessness Board
  • Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission
  • Metropolitan Policy Commission
  • Representative, Oregon House of Representatives, House District 14, 2003-2004
  • Eugene City Council, Ward 6, 1995-2003
  • Bethel School Board, 1993-1995
  • Oregon Food Bank, Board of Directors
  • Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force
  • Oregon Commission on Child Care
  • Member, Oregon House Revenue Committee
  • Member, Oregon Interim Joint Committee on Tax Reform
  • Vice-Chair, Oregon House Education Committee
  • Member, Lane County Human Services Commission;
  • Member, Intergovernmental Housing Policy Board
  • Chair, Council Committee on Homelessness and Youth
  • Member, Council Committee to Finance Affordable Housing
  • Member, Council Committee on Economics and Environment
  • Member, Council Committee on Telecommunications
  • SELCO Board of Directors

Professional Background

  • Merchandise Manager, Sales Manager, Human Resource Director, Jerry’s Home Improvement Center
  • General Manager, All in One True Value Hardware Stores
  • General Manager, Gray’s Garden Centers
  • Executive Director, FOOD for Lane County
  • Platoon Leader, Company Commander, Oregon Army National Guard

Educational Background

  • Beck Road Private School, Sheffield England
  • Tillamook High School
  • University of Oregon
  • Lane Community College
  • Oregon Military Academy

Special Interests and Concerns

  • Jobs and Economy
  • Transportation and land use
  • Public Safety