ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi tˈuː, mək fˈɑːɹlənd wʌz ᵻlˈɛktᵻd mˈeɪɚ, dᵻfˈiːɾɪŋ mˈeɪdʒɚ dˈʌbəljˌuː.dˈiː. ɡˈæmən fɚðɪ ˈɑːfɪs ˈæftɚ ðɪ ɪŋkˈʌmbənt, ˈeɪ.ˈeɪtʃ. ɡɹˈɛɡ, dᵻklˈaɪnd tə sˈiːk ɹiːᵻlˈɛkʃən.
In 1882, McFarland was elected mayor, defeating Major W.D. Gammon for the office after the incumbent, A.H. Gregg, declined to seek reelection.