Doreen Farr Opposing Brooks Firestone

SB Independent/Barney Brantingham

Doreen Running: Doreen Farr, former co-publisher of the Goleta Valley Voice newspaper and former 2nd District representative on the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission, says she’s opposing 3rd District incumbent supervisor Brooks Firestone.

Farr, a former Goleta resident and 25-year area resident, now lives in the Santa Ynez Valley following her divorce from Jim Farr, with whom she shared ownership of the Voice.

Farr said she’s filed papers to allow her to raise funds, is gathering endorsements, and plans to start walking the district door-to-door; and it’s a huge area, stretching from the SY Valley over the mountains to Goleta.

“It’s a critical election,” she told me, citing such as issues as planning and the Gaviota Coast. Farr, who served on the Planning Commission after being appointed by then-Supervisor Susan Rose, has been president of the Santa Ynez Valley Alliance, which she described as “dedicated to protecting the rural character” of the Valley. She said she left the commission to do consultant work for the city of Goleta.

Dr. David Bearman says he also plans to challenge Firestone in the June, 2008 election. If no one receives over 50 percent of the vote, the top two candidates will face off in the November general election.

Firestone faces a tough fight because of the number of residents unhappy with his positions on development and other issues.