Bert L. Farmer
Farmer in 1923
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 71st district
In office
January 8, 1917 – January 6, 1919
Preceded byLewis A. Spengler
Succeeded byHenry E. Carter
Member of the Los Angeles City Council for the At-Large district
In office
July 1, 1917 – July 5, 1921
President of the Los Angeles City Council
In office
January 3, 1918 – July 7, 1919
Preceded byJames Simpson Conwell
Succeeded byBoyle Workman
Personal details
Born(1875-02-27)February 27, 1875
Arroyo Grande, California, US
DiedMay 31, 1939(1939-05-31) (aged 64)
Los Angeles, California, US
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMaude Farmer
Children2

Robert "Bert" L. Farmer (February 27, 1875 – May 31, 1939) was an American politician who served in the California State Assembly and in the Los Angeles City Council. He unsuccessfully challenged George E. Cryer in the 1923 Los Angeles mayoral election.[1]

Early life and career

Farmer was born on February 27, 1875. He and his family, resided in both San Luis Obispo County and Merced County before he moved to Los Angeles in 1893, where he became an insurance adjuster. In 1903, Farmer was chosen by the Board of Education to become the census marshal.[2] In 1906, he became a city purchasing agent before becoming a deputy city clerk, city schools census marshal, and later the regional supervisor for the 1910 United States census.[3][4]

Political career

In November 7, 1916 California State Assembly election, Farmer won the seat for the 71st district over Socialist Party incumbent Lewis A. Spengler, Progressive candidate John H. Martin, and Prohibition candidate James Gillespie.[5] On July 1, 1917, while still serving as an Assemblyman, Farmer won a seat on the Los Angeles City Council.[6]

On January 3, 1918, Farmer was elected by the Council to become the President of the Los Angeles City Council, succeeding James Simpson Conwell.[7] During his one-year tenure, he presided over the renaming of Central Park to Pershing Square, helped with city celebrations for Eddie Rickenbacker, and cooperated with Mayor Frederick T. Woodman to "suppress[...] sedition in Los Angeles."[8][9][10]

In 1920, he was a candidate for Los Angeles County Supervisor for the 4th district, but lost the election.[11] In the 1923 Los Angeles mayoral election, he unsuccessfully challenged incumbent George E. Cryer for the office of Mayor, to which he advocated for a new city charter.[4][3] In May 1933, he was a candidate for the 73rd State Assembly district, but lost to Howard W. Davis.[12]

Personal life and death

Farmer was married to Maude Farmer, and the two of them had two children, Ada Carroll and Dorothy Reamer. He became ill during the last three years of his life, dying at his home in Pico Union on May 31, 1939.[6] His funeral was held on June 2, 1939.[13]

References

Access to the Los Angeles Times links requires the use of a library card.

  1. ^ "FINAL RESULTS OF PRIMARY ELECTION.: WOODMAN, STEPHENS AND MYERS RETAIN OFFICES; Nominations for Board of Education Presage Interesting Fight When Final Balloting Comes.Beat Candidates for Council, with Few Exceptions, are Chosen. It's no Wonder They Look Pleasant! Election Results". Los Angeles Times. May 3, 1917. ProQuest 160415894.
  2. ^ "SCHOOL BOARD NAMES CENSUS MARSHAL: BERT FARMER CHOSEN FOR THIS IMPORTANT POSITION. Sedate Educators Accept Invitation of Looloos for Opening Day and Will Parade in Morley's Autos--Vacation Fiesta Week". Los Angeles Times. March 24, 1903. ProQuest 164159903.
  3. ^ a b Spitzzeri, Paul R. (May 1, 2021). "Primary Education: Artifacts from the Los Angeles City Primary Election, 1 May 1923". Homestead Museum.
  4. ^ a b Spitzzeri, Paul R. (May 2, 2022). ""I Shall Not Play a One-String Fiddle If I Am Elected": A Campaign Pamphlet for Mayoral Candidate Bert L. Farmer, Los Angeles, Spring 1923". Homestead Meuseum.
  5. ^ "November 7, 1916 General Election". JoinCalifornia.
  6. ^ a b "Bert L. Farmer Taken by Death: Former Assemblyman and Council President Ill for Three Years". Los Angeles Times. June 1, 1939. ProQuest 165022680.
  7. ^ "COUNCIL ELECTS AFTER ACRIMONIOUS DEBATE.: Farmer is New President and True is Named Conwell's Successor". Los Angeles Times. January 4, 1918. ProQuest 160447424.
  8. ^ Spitzzeri, Paul R. (November 13, 2018). "At Our Leisure: Central Park Becomes Pershing Square, November 1918". Homestead Meuseum.
  9. ^ Spitzzeri, Paul R. (June 21, 2021). ""Now Rick Comes Home, a Hero Born of War": The Official Souvenir of the Celebration and Reception in Honor of Captain Eddie V. Rickenbacker, Los Angeles, 21-23 June 1919". Homestead Museum.
  10. ^ Spitzzeri, Paul R. (May 4, 2021). ""In a Burst of Enthusiasm and Patriotic Rejoicing": Photos of a Liberty Loan/Flag Day Parade, Los Angeles, 4 May 1918". Homestead Meuseum.
  11. ^ The Grizzly Bear. Grizzly Bear Publishing Company. 1919. p. 20.
  12. ^ "EIGHTY-ONE CANDIDATES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL: All Incumbents Seek Re-election; "Times" Recommendations in the Fifteen Districts". Los Angeles Times. April 30, 1933. ProQuest 163098132.
  13. ^ "Bert Farmer's Funeral Today: Council Pays Honor to Former Member by Adjourning Session". Los Angeles Times. June 2, 1939. ProQuest 164944269.
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