Bert L. Farmer | |
|---|---|
 Farmer in 1923 | |
| Member of theCalifornia State Assembly from the71st district | |
| In office January 8, 1917 – January 6, 1919 | |
| Preceded by | Lewis A. Spengler |
| Succeeded by | Henry E. Carter |
| Member of theLos 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 by | James Simpson Conwell |
| Succeeded by | Boyle Workman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1875-02-27)February 27, 1875 |
| Died | May 31, 1939(1939-05-31) (aged 64) Los Angeles, California, US |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Maude Farmer |
| Children | 2 |
Robert "Bert" L. Farmer (February 27, 1875 – May 31, 1939) was an American politician who served in theCalifornia State Assembly and in theLos Angeles City Council. He unsuccessfully challengedGeorge E. Cryer in the1923 Los Angeles mayoral election.[1]
Farmer was born on February 27, 1875. He and his family, resided in bothSan Luis Obispo County andMerced County before he moved toLos 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 the1910 United States census.[3][4]
On November 7, 1916California State Assembly election, Farmer won the seat for the71st district overSocialist Party incumbentLewis A. Spengler,Progressive candidate John H. Martin, andProhibition candidate James Gillespie.[5] On July 1, 1917, while still serving as an Assemblyman, Farmer won a seat on theLos Angeles City Council.[6]
On January 3, 1918, Farmer was elected by the Council to become thePresident of the Los Angeles City Council, succeedingJames Simpson Conwell.[7] During his one-year tenure, he presided over the renaming of Central Park toPershing Square, helped with city celebrations forEddie Rickenbacker, and cooperated withMayorFrederic T. Woodman to "suppress[...] sedition in Los Angeles."[8][9][10]
In 1920, he was a candidate forLos Angeles County Supervisor for the 4th district, but lost the election.[11] In the1923 Los Angeles mayoral election, he unsuccessfully challenged incumbentGeorge E. Cryer for the office ofMayor, to which he advocated for a new city charter.[4][3] In May 1933, he was a candidate for the73rd State Assembly district, but lost toHoward W. Davis.[12]
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 inPico Union on May 31, 1939.[6] His funeral was held on June 2, 1939.[13]
Access to theLos Angeles Times links requires the use of a library card.