Kevin Garn
Encyclopedia
Kevin Stacy Garn is an American politician and is the former Republican
majority leader of the Utah House of Representatives
. Until his resignation on March 13, 2010 following personal disclosures, he represented District 16 of Utah, which covers Davis County, Utah
.
Garn attended Weber State University
and served as president of KSG Distributing, Inc. He served in the Utah House of Representatives from January 1, 1991 to June 19, 2002 and resumed his service on January 1, 2007. Garn served as Assistant Majority Whip in 1995 and 1996. In 2002, Garn ran for the seat of Utah's 1st congressional district
in the United States House of Representatives
, but lost the Republican primary to Rob Bishop
For the 2009-2010 legislative session, he served in the House standing committees Business and Labor and Ethics and the House Joint Subcomittee for Public Education Appropriations.
At the close of the 2010 legislative session, Garn admitted to a nude encounter with an underage female in a hot tub when he was 28. The woman, Cheryl Maher, was killed in a murder-suicide in New Hampshire
in July 2011. Garn paid her $150,000 for signing a confidentiality agreement in 2002 when she threatened to expose the incident during his failed U.S. congressional campaign. Maher, who was an employee of Garn's company at the time, told the press that Kevin Garn lied about the lack of physical contact, but did not elaborate. Garn, who was married at the time, has denied the activities went beyond sitting nude in the hot tub, but called the incident "clearly inappropriate". Maher wrote to LDS Church president Thomas S. Monson
asking for the church to seek action against Garn, who served as a bishop and Sunday school teacher at an LDS Church. Garn resigned from the House on March 13, and the Davis County
Republican Party picked businessman Stephen G. Handy to replace Garn on April 11; Handy worked with Garn in the Layton City Council. Handy was sworn in four days later.
In March 2010, it was reported that Garn had been cited for driving under the influence in 2006 and later pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of alcohol-related reckless driving. As a result, Garn paid a $900 fine and entered probation for a year. This plea was entered during his second term with the Utah State Legislature.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
majority leader of the Utah House of Representatives
Utah House of Representatives
The Utah House of Representatives is the lower house of the Utah State Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Utah. The House is composed of 75 representatives elected from single member constituent districts. Each district contains an average population of 35,000 people...
. Until his resignation on March 13, 2010 following personal disclosures, he represented District 16 of Utah, which covers Davis County, Utah
Davis County, Utah
Davis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2010 the population was 306,479, a 28.2% increase over the 2000 figure of 238,994. It was named for Daniel C. Davis, captain in the Mormon Battalion. The county is part of the Ogden–Clearfield Metropolitan Statistical Area as...
.
Garn attended Weber State University
Weber State University
Weber State University is a public university located in the city of Ogden in Weber County, Utah, USA. It was founded in 1889 and is a coeducational, publicly supported university offering professional, liberal arts and technical certificates, as well as associate, bachelor's and master's degrees...
and served as president of KSG Distributing, Inc. He served in the Utah House of Representatives from January 1, 1991 to June 19, 2002 and resumed his service on January 1, 2007. Garn served as Assistant Majority Whip in 1995 and 1996. In 2002, Garn ran for the seat of Utah's 1st congressional district
Utah's 1st congressional district
Utah's 1st congressional district serves the northwest area of Utah, including the cities of Ogden, Logan, Tooele; the northwest portion of Salt Lake City, and the entirety of the Great Salt Lake....
in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, but lost the Republican primary to Rob Bishop
Rob Bishop
Robert William "Rob" Bishop is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party, and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.-Early life, education, and early career:...
For the 2009-2010 legislative session, he served in the House standing committees Business and Labor and Ethics and the House Joint Subcomittee for Public Education Appropriations.
At the close of the 2010 legislative session, Garn admitted to a nude encounter with an underage female in a hot tub when he was 28. The woman, Cheryl Maher, was killed in a murder-suicide in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
in July 2011. Garn paid her $150,000 for signing a confidentiality agreement in 2002 when she threatened to expose the incident during his failed U.S. congressional campaign. Maher, who was an employee of Garn's company at the time, told the press that Kevin Garn lied about the lack of physical contact, but did not elaborate. Garn, who was married at the time, has denied the activities went beyond sitting nude in the hot tub, but called the incident "clearly inappropriate". Maher wrote to LDS Church president Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson
Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth...
asking for the church to seek action against Garn, who served as a bishop and Sunday school teacher at an LDS Church. Garn resigned from the House on March 13, and the Davis County
Davis County, Utah
Davis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2010 the population was 306,479, a 28.2% increase over the 2000 figure of 238,994. It was named for Daniel C. Davis, captain in the Mormon Battalion. The county is part of the Ogden–Clearfield Metropolitan Statistical Area as...
Republican Party picked businessman Stephen G. Handy to replace Garn on April 11; Handy worked with Garn in the Layton City Council. Handy was sworn in four days later.
In March 2010, it was reported that Garn had been cited for driving under the influence in 2006 and later pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of alcohol-related reckless driving. As a result, Garn paid a $900 fine and entered probation for a year. This plea was entered during his second term with the Utah State Legislature.