[5] Farrell's campaign website says she was elected to office on both occasions with the support not only of her fellow Democrats, but also a significant group of independents and Republicans.

[3] A strong mayor form of government, she managed multi-million dollar budgets within the Consumer Price Index and maintained the town’s AAA bond rating at a time when significant infrastructure investment was taking place.

[citation needed] In 2002, she was elected chair of Fairfield County's South Western Regional Metropolitan Planning Organization, which is responsible for managing development and sprawl.

A Presidential appointee, confirmed by the U.S. Senate, she was responsible for voting on the transactions in excess of $10 million as well as on significant policy matters.

In this role, she also oversaw planning and execution of Commerce commercial diplomacy and export promotion strategies at United States Missions in Region Asia.

[9] Farrell announced that she would challenge 17-year incumbent Republican Christopher Shays for the representation of Connecticut's fourth congressional district.

However, she was widely regarded as having made considerable progress, as she won towns beside traditionally Democratic blue-collar Bridgeport.