LOS ANGELES, Oct. 20, 2003 -- Attorney David Farrar has been seated on the board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California as one of four directors representing the city of Los Angeles.
Metropolitan is a public agency that imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California, and wholesales it to 26 public agencies throughout Southern California. Metropolitan provides nearly half of the water used by 18 million people in six counties, and also helps develop conservation, recycling, reclamation and desalination projects.
Farrar, named to the post by Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn, replaces Jorge Castro, who served on the Metropolitan board for more than three years. He took his seat on the Metropolitan board at its Tuesday meeting.
Farrar has served as chairman of the city of Los Angeles' Community Redevelopment Agency and vice chairman of the Los Angeles County Economy and Efficiency Commission. He was counsel to the city on development of the Staples Center.
He also has served as counsel to Metropolitan and to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on the construction of their headquarters buildings adjoining Los Angeles' Union Station; as special counsel to U.S. Judge Harry Pregerson for the re-engineering and privatization of the Century Freeway Housing program; and as counsel to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for the public-private development of health care and housing projects for seniors at its West Los Angeles campus.
Farrar received the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism in aerial combat during the Vietnam War. He was a founding director of US VETS, the nation's largest housing and job assistance program for formerly homeless veterans.
A native of the Commonwealth of Virginia, he earned his bachelor's and law degrees at the University of Virginia.
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving 18 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other water-management programs.
