Growing up in a family where service was a calling, Huntington native and now Mayor Patrick Farrell learned the importance of integrity, compassion and empathy early on in life.
His mother Charlene, a CEO at Hospice of Huntington, spent more than 30 years nurturing the community. His father Paul, a prosecutor turned judge, instilled in him a sense of fairness that would resonate throughout his life.
“I was raised by a nurse’s heart and judge’s sense of justice,” Farrell said. “They shaped me.” 
Farrell’s journey would take him far beyond his hometown as he answered the call to serve his country. After graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Farrell attended flight school at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. He went on to serve nearly a decade in the military, becoming a decorated veteran and receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroism.
This experience honed his leadership abilities and tested his mettle.
“When serving in the Air Force, you quickly learn who you are and what it takes to lead,” he said.
Stationed at RAF Lakenheath in England, Farrell flew F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets as a weapons systems officer during multiple combat tours.
“After you’ve been shot at, all crises seem to be a little different,” he said. “Time in combat certainly does give you perspective about the challenges we face here today.”
The values instilled in him by his parents and the military – integrity first, service before self and excellence in all things – would become his guiding principles.
“I think that does give me the qualifications to help lead the city,” Farrell said. “If you have the compassion for people and sense of justice about how to do it, you can help shepherd the change in the city we need to get us to a better spot.”
When Running a Business Wasn’t Enough, He Ran for Mayor
After his distinguished military career, Farrell earned his MBA at Duke University. With a newfound mission of running a business and providing jobs, Farrell returned to his hometown with his wife Kate and their two sons.
Farrell became involved in several business ventures, including becoming the owner of Service Pump & Supply, a company dedicated to finding industrial solutions for clean water, wastewater management and stormwater control.
“I thought growing a business was the way to fix West Virginia’s ills, that providing jobs would be enough,” he said. “As it turns out, it wasn’t.”
His leadership and industrial skills extended to public service, a reflection of his commitment to Appalachia’s growth and success. Farrell joined many boards, including the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, where he still serves after nine years; the West Virginia Economic Development Authority; and Energy Services of America Corporation.
Farrell also joined the Board of Governors for Marshall University during a pivotal moment. Stepping into another leadership role as board chair, Farrell focused the university on three priorities: financial stability, affordability for students and adaptability for higher education. Farrell saw firsthand the crucial role education and the university play in Huntington’s future.
“For Huntington to thrive, Marshall needed to thrive,” he said. “Marshall can’t do it alone. They really do need a partner in the city.”
One of the key moves Farrell made for Marshall was helping recruit Brad Smith as the university’s president. Since taking the role, Smith has been driving transformation at Marshall, bringing fresh ideas and making a real impact. Reflecting on Farrell’s leadership, Smith shared how Marshall, and the city, have benefited from Farrell’s vision, both as chair of the Board of Governors and in his current role as mayor.
“Mayor Farrell exemplifies a commitment to service and innovation,” Smith said. “As a decorated U.S. Air Force veteran and successful entrepreneur, he brings a wealth of experience to our city. Patrick’s dedication to data-driven, compassionate solutions reflects his deep-rooted love for our community and his vision for a thriving future.” 
But while Farrell was helping guide Marshall to greater success, he realized the city was still at risk of missing its full potential.
This understanding, coupled with his leadership experience and mission to give back to his community, sparked his interest in taking a larger role. Recognizing that business alone couldn’t solve Huntington’s challenges, he made a bold decision – he would run for mayor.
“I believe for the city to grow, we have to do certain things, and I was afraid they wouldn’t happen if I didn’t run,” Farrell said. “I was afraid we would miss the opportunity at this time that Marshall was growing, that we wouldn’t reach our full potential unless the city could also be a partner in that growth and help fuel it.”
Refocusing Resources: Priorities for Huntington’s Future
As mayor, Farrell remains grounded in the same values that have guided him throughout his life: integrity, service and excellence. His data-driven, results-oriented, problem-solving approach is driven by his military experience and business acumen.
Farrell said he’s not one to get distracted by the noise of day-to-day politics. Instead, he’s laser-focused on goals that matter most for the city’s future: public safety, resilient infrastructure and economic development.
“The first priority of any mayor of any city has to be public safety,” Farrell said. “There is a toxic intersection between drugs and homelessness right now, and we have to solve that first. It takes law enforcement to attack the drugs issue; it takes an empathetic approach to homelessness. You have to find a way to work your way through it. We’re actively doing that now.” 
Next is infrastructure. Huntington has long struggled with flooding, especially during heavy rains. Farrell is prioritizing the city’s aging infrastructure and seeking sustainable solutions.
“It’s raining today, right? You can see our flooding issues,” he said. “That won’t change unless we do something. Water is rational and it goes to the point of least resistance. There is a way to stop it – not every city floods.”
Lastly, Farrell is committed to driving Huntington’s economic development. He believes Marshall and its cybersecurity, aviation and advanced manufacturing programs are key engines for growth. For the city to truly thrive, he said, it needs to be a partner in that growth, bringing new people, offering better housing and improving safety.
Farrell’s vision for the Jewel City goes beyond fixing immediate problems. It’s about transforming the city into a place where people want to live, work and thrive.
Leading by Example: “I’ve Got Your Back”
If you want to understand Farrell’s leadership style, look no further than how he launched his administration. Recognizing the complexity of Huntington’s challenges, he approached it with humility and a commitment to being accessible.
On his first day in office Jan. 1, while most people enjoyed a holiday, Farrell began with purpose. He gathered with faith leaders for a prayer on the riverbank, focusing on the homeless and underscoring his commitment to the city’s most vulnerable. From there, he visited police officers, firefighters and city workers in parts of Huntington that are often overlooked, offering his support to those working New Year’s Day.
“I told them, ‘I’ve got your back.’ I wanted people to know I was going to be visible – I wasn’t going to just lead from City Hall. I was going to neighborhoods where people live, to see them, hear them and try to help them with a better life,” Farrell said. 
Polishing the Jewel: A Vision for Huntington’s Future
Huntington plays a pivotal role as a regional hub. It’s the heart of the Tri-State area, a center for education and innovation and a leader in talent development and workforce recruitment, fueled by Marshall.
Farrell sees the potential in Huntington’s history, its connection to the Ohio River, its vibrant people and its capacity for growth. But he is also a realist, understanding resources are limited, and he aims to use every dollar wisely to meet the city’s core goals.
During his first budget presentation as mayor, Farrell focused on his core priorities, staying true to the promises made during his inauguration. Key highlights include enhancing safety by fully funding police and fire services, advancing critical infrastructure projects like stormwater upgrades and driving economic growth through the $200 million Innovation District and revitalizing the Highlawn and Fairfield neighborhoods. Alongside these investments, he remains committed to maintaining financial resiliency with cash reserves to address potential challenges.
Whether it’s improving public safety, upgrading infrastructure or boosting economic growth, Patrick Farrell leads Huntington with a business-driven mindset. He’s the kind of leader who not only has a clear vision but also has the savvy to tackle the right challenges at the right time. Guided by his core values of integrity, service and excellence, Farrell is all in on steering the region toward a brighter, more prosperous future where all can flourish.