Donald E. Lahr, a longtime local businessman and community leader who served as mayor of Santa Maria from December 1998 to December 2000, died of a stroke on Jan. 25 four days after celebrating his 81st birthday.
According to a press release from the city, Lahr had a key role in changing the mayoral term from two years to four years, “in an effort to help lend stability to city government.”
Lahr listed the four-year mayoral term as one of his main objectives because he believed the two-year term diminished the power and authority of the mayor’s position and was inconsistent with the four-year terms served by City Council members. Most voters agreed with Lahr, authorizing the term change in November 2000 by a count of 64 percent to 36 percent.
“He knew how our city worked. His interest was in the community, not in his own vested interest,” said Donald A. Lahr, one of his four sons, in the press release. “He was a natural leader.”
Current Mayor Larry Lavagnino said Lahr made Santa Maria a better community.
“He was our good friend and I feel great sorrow for his passing,” Lavagnino said in the release. “He didn’t want to be a politician, but he wanted to contribute. He had a knack for doing the right thing.”
Lahr was president of Lahr Electric Motors—a local business founded by his father in the 1940s—until he sold the business about 15 years ago. He also served as president of the Santa Maria Economic Development Association, as past president of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce, and as a member of the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission.
Outside of the political arena, Lahr was known for co-founding the Community Bank of Santa Maria, and serving as president of the Orcutt Union School Board, a YMCA board member, and an appointee to the State Fair Board.
Lahr was born in Peoria, Ill., and graduated from high school in Genoa, Ill. He was an Eagle Scout, and attended Allan Hancock College. He is survived by his wife, Doris, and four sons, Donald, Larry, Jeffery, and Thomas.
Funeral arrangements were pending as of press time.
This article appears in Feb 3-10, 2011.