Civic Involvement

Elect Farrah For the Good of Carlsbad

My Fellow Carlsbad Residents,

Since I’m asking for your vote and your financial support for the November 2nd, election, I think it’s only fair to let you review my qualifications and experiences. Please feel free to use my website Contact form or call me at: 760-809-3702 should you have any questions. I’ll be more than happy to meet with you and talk issues. In fact I welcome such opportunities. This beautiful city is our home, our shared home, and I will do everything possible to make sure it’s a prosperous, safe and financially sound city.

I thank you for visiting my website and for being an informed voter in Carlsbad.

Summary of Business and Leadership Experiences:

Business Credentials:

President and CEO of CDS Printing in Carlsbad: For the past twenty years as a business owner in Carlsbad I have created jobs, have made payroll, paid business taxes and insurance and have contributed to the economic engine of our city. I've been the public face of our business and its chief marketing director.

You may not know that my husband and I started our business in Carlsbad in 1990 and have managed it from its infancy to now as a well known small business in Carlsbad and surrounding cities. During these years my husband and I have seen our local economy roll into at least two recessions and then of course the BIG ONE, which still continues. We have worked tirelessly to create and maintain our annual budget, forecast growth or down turn potentials, learn about new emerging technologies and reinvent and redirect our business.

With our hard work and quick response to the country and our city's financial situation we have been able to weather the storms and in the process have learned a great deal about how and when to expand and to contract. I will bring all these experiences with me to the City Council and will serve you to the best of my abilities.

Community Involvement:

From the first day we opened our business in Carlsbad I knew I wanted to contribute to the well being of our city. Here is a summary of some of my activities you may not know about:

• Back in our early days I participated as a member of the Board of Directors in the Capital Campaign fundraising for Casa de Amparo's new location and building. Casa de Amparo is the house of abused children, the only one in north San Diego County.
• In mid 1990s and early 2000s I was the leading member of the Aviara Community Fund Board of Directors from its early stages, developing "Holiday Festival of Trees" event and forging partnerships with Four Seasons Resort and many local vendors in Carlsbad.
• I was the Chair of the Aviara Community Fund (2000-2002) and responsible for three fundraising events: "Fashion Show," "Auction banquets and dinner dance," and "Holiday Festival of Trees" The net proceeds of these programs, over $80,000.00 annually, were distributed between local charitable organizations helping needy children and women.
• In 2007 I became one of the founding members of Carlsbad Charitable Foundation and served on its Board of Directors, recruiting influential board members, and raising funds for local causes in Carlsbad. So far Carlsbad Charitable Foundation has donated over $.... to Carlsbad schools and entities.
• I also have served as the President of Hi-Noon Rotary foundation since 2006, successfully establishing a highly qualified Board of Directors and re-instating its tax exempt status. Our goal at Rotary Foundation is to raise funds for Carlsbad based charities and students.

Chamber of Commerce achievements:

I'm the only candidate on the ballot who is also a business leader in our community and a past-chair of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce:

• In early 1990s I helped rewrite the Chamber's non-profit foundation's bylaws and regulations. I then revamped, redesigned and energized an annual golf and tennis Tournament to raise funds for public schools through this foundation.(1990-1998)
• I'm proud to have helped establish two very important "giving" programs at the Chamber of Commerce: Student Recognition and Teachers' Grant awards.
• To publicize and attract more local businesses to contribute to the Chamber Foundation we successfully obtained grants from our local TV station in Carlsbad to televise these two special events. It has now changed to what the teachers themselves call the Education Oscar night in Carlsbad. Our little way of saying thank you to our teachers.
• In the year 2000 I led the Chamber as its Chairman of the Board and my lifelong goal of establishing the Chamber University came to reality. The purpose of this University has been to educate and assist small business owners to learn more about how to run their businesses and stay in touch with the every-changing rules, technologies and economic factors.
• During my year as the Chairman of the Board and many years before and since then I've made the trip with the other Chamber Board members to Sacramento to lobby for business-friendly legislation.
• As a member of the Chamber's Executive Board I accepted the responsibility of the Vice-Chair of Marketing and Membership and increased Chamber's membership and retention by 25% during those years.

Political accomplishments:

At the end of 2006 I was appointed by Mayor Bud Lewis and the Council Members as a Planning Commissioner.

• In 2010 my fellow Planning Commissioners elected me as the Chair of the Commission unanimously, a powerful testament to my leadership abilities.
• By assembling a team of the most respected community and business leaders I managed Mayor Bud Lewis' successful re-election campaign in 2006.
• In 2006-2007 I also served on Citizens' Committee to study Carlsbad's Flower Fields and Strawberry Fields, assuming a strong leadership position in rendering opinions, writing the language of the ballot measures and presenting the Committee's findings live on TV to the Council Members.
• The Council Members appointed me for a two-year term in 2009 to be a member of the Community Development Block Grant Committee comprised of local leaders to study, analyze, and successfully divide and disburse nearly $1 million in Federal grants to various qualified, charitable organizations serving the citizens of Carlsbad.
• Since 2007 I've been a frequent speaker at local colleges, churches, political and philanthropic organizations. My speeches center around business issues as well as human rights and in particular women and children's plight all around the world.
• At the present time I'm the President Five Women Who Care International, sponsoring women and children related charities.
• Some of you may have heard me as a radio host when I have hosted the Rick Amato Show on KCBQ 1170.
• To concentrate on local issues and to help our Carlsbad families, I unveiled my own internet-based radio show in April. The name of the show is: "For the Good of Carlsbad with Farrah Douglas." Our focus is always Carlsbad and Carlsbadians. The archives of the shows are stored on my website Farrah Douglas. Please check it out.
• Currently I'm a member of the Envision Carlsbad Committee for the revision of Carlsbad's General Plan.

Select Awards and Recognition: