Mic Farris is a current member and the former chair of the Thousand Oaks Planning Commission and author of the Thousand Oaks Right to Vote Initiative.

His latest project, TUESDAY NIGHT FIGHTS, captures the birth and tumultuous rise of an American city - the city of Thousand Oaks, California. With nearly 25 years of city and county public service and reputation as a “local council historian,” the true story of TUESDAY NIGHT FIGHTS highlights the myriad of political issues that guided the city’s history.

Through his involvement in Thousand Oaks government and politics during this period, Mic shares his direct knowledge of the events and experience with the principals of the story.  Additionally, Mic was directly involved with some of the primary events detailed in later chapters, so he is uniquely positioned to serve as the author of this story.

Mic has served the City of Thousand Oaks and the County of Ventura in various capacities, including:

  • Member, Planning Commission, City of Thousand Oaks (1999-2002, 2003-2005, 2011-2014, 2023-present)

    • Elected Chair (2002, 2003, 2004)

    • Elected Vice-Chair (2001, 2003)

  • Member, Civil Service Commission, County of Ventura (2021-2023)

    • Elected Vice-Chair (2022, 2023)

  • Member, Climate Emergency Council, County of Ventura (2020-2023)

  • Member, Traffic and Transportation Commission, City of Thousand Oaks (2020-2023)

  • Member, Thousand Oaks 2045 General Plan Advisory Committee, City of Thousand Oaks (2019-2023)

  • Member, Tobacco Settlement Allocation Committee, County of Ventura (2006-2008, 2010-2011)

    • Appointed Chair (2007-2008)

    • Appointed Vice-Chair (2007)

  • Member, Citizens’ Oral Board for Ventura County Sheriff’s Commander position (2011)

Member of numerous City of Thousand Oaks committees and commissions including:

  • Blue Ribbon Campaign Finance Reform Committee (1998)

  • Residential Development Evaluation Board (1999-2002, 2003-2005)

  • General Plan Review Committee (2004)

  • Author/Organizer, Thousand Oaks Right to Vote Initiative

    • Guaranteeing that voters select their representatives on the City Council

    • Approved into law (2012)

  • Board Member, Save Open-Space and Agricultural Resources (SOAR) (2013-2014, 2022-present)

  • Public Service Commendations, City of Thousand Oaks (3), County of Ventura (4)

Professionally, Mic has a BS in Physics from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (1990) and a MS (1992) and PhD (1993) in Space Physics from UCLA.  He has worked in industry as an expert in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, holding various leadership and executive positions.

Personally, Mic has lived in Thousand Oaks (with the exception of one year) since 1993 with his wife Stephanie, who teaches students with learning challenges and holds Associate Level certification from the Orton-Gillingham Academy in the treatment of dyslexia. Their daughter Monroe was born and raised in Thousand Oaks and graduated valedictorian from Newbury Park High School; she earned her Bachelors degree in Cognitive Science from the University of Virginia and her Masters degree in Data Science from Georgetown.