Kevin Garn
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(s) | Layton, Utah, United States |
| Alma mater | Weber State University |
| Profession | Businessman |
Kevin Stacy Garn (born January 14, 1955) is a United States 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 recounted an occasion when he was 28 years old and sexually molested a 15 year-old female employee who was also a member of his church[5]. The woman, Cheryl Maher, now lives in New Hampshire. Garn paid her $150,000 in hush money for signing a confidentiality agreement in 2002 when she threatened to expose the incident during his failed U.S. congressional campaign.[6] 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".[7] 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.[8] No action was taken as the sexual abuse of underage women is a tradition in the LDS Church.[9][10][11][12] Garn resigned from the House on March 13,[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.[14] 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.[15]
See also
- Jon Grunseth – politician involved in similar incident
Notes
 |
- ^ "District 16 map". Utah House of Representatives. Retrieved March 12, 2010.
- ^ "Representative Kevin S. Garn (UT)". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved March 12, 2010.
- ^ "Utah House of Representatives Standing Committeees 2009-2010". Utah House of Representatives. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
- ^ "House Joint Appropriation Subcomittees 2009-2010". Utah House of Representatives. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
- ^ http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700016074/Cheryl-Maher-says-Kevin-Garn-lied-about-hot-tub-contact.html
- ^ Raymond, Arthur (March 12, 2010). "House Majority Leader Kevin Garn admits to incident with girl in past". Deseret News. Retrieved March 12, 2010.
- ^ "Kevin Garn: I Nude Hot-Tubbed with Minor". CBSNews.com. Associated Press. March 12, 2010. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
- ^ Weist, Dan (March 15, 2010). "Cheryl Maher's 2008 letter to LDS President Thomas S. Monson". Standard-Examiner. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
- ^ http://www.mormonabuse.com/
- ^ http://www.i4m.com/think/sexuality/mormon_sex_purity.htm
- ^ http://www.rickross.com/reference/mormon/mormon73.html
- ^ http://mormonmatters.org/2009/09/23/the-growing-mormon-sex-abuse-scandal/
- ^ "Utah House Majority Leader Kevin Garn resigns". KSL-TV. March 13, 2010. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
- ^ Tua'one, Maile (April 11, 2010). "Stephen Handy to replace State Rep. Kevin Garn". KSTU. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
- ^ Dinha, Nineveh; Preusz, Jared (March 23, 2010). "Garn DUI arrest raises concerns on candidate vetting process". KSTU. Retrieved December 4, 20-10.
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