In 2003 the United States Conference of Mayors elected Garner its 61st president, a position he held for one year.

[citation needed] In 2004, Garner was nominated by the Republican Party to challenge Representative Carolyn McCarthy in New York's 4th congressional district.

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry carried 55% of the district's vote in that same election.

Six months later in March, 2005, Garner was defeated by Democrat Wayne Hall in his reelection bid for Mayor of Hempstead.

This was also evident in the 2009 race for mayor when Hall defeated Garner with 48 percent of the total vote.