| Kevin Stacy Garn | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Utah House of Representatives from the 16th District |
|
| In office January 1, 2007 – March 13, 2010 |
|
| Preceded by | J. Stuart Adams |
| Succeeded by | Stephen G. Handy |
| In office January 1, 1991 – June 19, 2002 |
|
| Preceded by | Franklin W. Knowlton |
| Succeeded by | J. Stuart Adams |
| 58th House Majority Leader | |
| In office January 26, 2009 – March 13, 2010 |
|
| Preceded by | David Clark |
| House Assistant Majority Whip | |
| In office 1995–1996 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 14, 1955 |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence | Layton, Utah, United States |
| Alma mater | Weber State University |
| Profession | Businessman |
| Religion | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
Kevin Stacy Garn (born January 14, 1955) 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.[1]
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,[2] 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.[3][4]
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.[5] The woman, Cheryl Maher, was killed in a murder-suicide in New Hampshire in July 2011.[6] 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.[7] 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".[8] 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.[9] Garn resigned from the House on March 13,[10] 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.[11] 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.[12]