Education
After being raised in Washington Court House, Ohio, Garland attended Ohio University before attending George Mason for law.
After being raised in Washington Court House, Ohio, Garland attended Ohio University before attending George Mason for law.
She previously was an aide for Congressman Jack Hightower, and spent decades of lobbying in Columbus and Washington, District of Columbia, where she worked for the American Optometric Association and the American Physical Therapy Association. Garland most recently served as executive director of the Ohio Physical Therapy Association. Initially, Democrat Bev Campbell was the choice to try to take the 20th District from incumbent Republican Jim McGregor in 2008, but Representative Ted Celeste encouraged Garland to enter the race.
As a result, a primary race came to fruition between Garland and Campbell.
The general election against McGregor proved to be one of the closest watched House races of the cycle, with Republicans hitting Garland"s lobbying history negatively. In the end, Garland proved victorious, besting McGregor by more than 2,000 votes.
In 2010, Garland was again targeted by Republicans as a potential pick-up, and she faced attorney Matt Carle in the general election. The campaign again proved to be negative.
In an overwhelmingly Republican year, Garland still beat Carle by 2,000 votes.
A reintroduction from the 128th Ohio General Assembly, Garland supports legislation that bans texting while driving, and voted legislation to do this out of committee. The bill passed the full Ohio House. In regards to prescription drug abuse, Garland has been a vocal advocate about finding prevention measures.
"lieutenant is imperative that we enact this law to save Ohioans from the scourge of prescription-drug abuse," she has said.
Quotations: "lieutenant is imperative that we enact this law to save Ohioans from the scourge of prescription-drug abuse,".
Now in her second term, Garland is serving as a member of the Criminal Justice Committee. The Finance and Appropriations Committee as ranking member of the Higher Education Subcommittee. The Financial Institutions, Housing, and Urban Development Committee.
The Economic and Small Business Development Committee.
And on the Health and Aging Committee. She also is a member of the Correctional Institution Inspection Committee.
The Hospital Measures Advisory Council. The Joint Legislative Committee on Medicaid Technology and Reform.
As well as the Chairman of the Ohio Women"s Democratic Caucus.