| Brett Garner was appointed to fulfill the vacancy in House District 31 on January 30, 2023. As a fifth-generation Utahn, his roots run deep, tracing back to early Utah pioneers. His dedication to public service was nurtured by his parents, with his mother dedicating nearly four decades to teaching kindergarten and his father proudly serving as an Air Force Vietnam veteran.
Within the legislature, Representative Garner stands firmly committed to principles of transparency, accessibility, and advocacy for Utah families. He has passionately advocated for funding technical college scholarships at Salt Lake Community College and staunchly opposed any efforts to reduce education funding. In the upcoming year, Representative Garner is set to introduce legislation aimed at enhancing child safety in school zones, increasing the minimum wage, and ensuring transparency in political campaign financing.
His wife, Shannon, is an educator who imparts her knowledge as a special education resource teacher at Taylorsville High, her own alma mater. Over the past 15 years, she has also contributed her expertise to elementary special education within a charter school and the Granite School district. The Garners take immense pride in their roles as parents to two outstanding boys and a delightful two-year-old girl. In his spare time, Representative Garner has dedicated his efforts to championing progressive leaders in our state, having managed campaigns, engaged in door-to-door outreach, conducted phone campaigns, and provided counsel and financial support to commendable figures in the realms of business and education. His career has encompassed roles in various sectors, including work with an internet startup furniture company and outdoor recreation fields. In 2018, he and his wife relocated to West Valley, where he assumed the role of a dedicated stay-at-home dad. Representative Garner remains actively involved in his community and neighborhood, holding leadership positions in the PTA and other community organizations. |