In 2013, he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the unicameral Nebraska Legislature, representing a district in Sarpy County, in the Omaha metropolitan area.
Garrett and his family moved 17 times during his 26 years in the military, ending at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska, where he retired in 2003 with the rank of colonel.
[1][2][3][4][5] After leaving the Air Force, Garrett spent four years working as a manager for a major defense contractor.
[3][6] In November 2013, state senator Scott Price of Bellevue resigned his seat in the Legislature, citing family responsibilities.
[8][9] Governor Dave Heineman, charged with naming a replacement, announced that he was appointing Bellevue businessman Patrick Shannon, who had unsuccessfully run for the position in 2004.
Hours after Heineman's announcement, Shannon withdrew his name from consideration, stating that the need to care for his elderly parents took precedence.
Several of Nebraska's major media outlets noted that he had never paid a $16,000 fine arising from 2004 campaign-law violations, and suggested that this might have influenced his decision to withdraw.
Garrett ran for the position; he was challenged by Carol Blood, a member of the Bellevue City Council.
[9][14][15] Garrett decried "needless government regulation";[9] Blood called for more promotion of wind energy in Nebraska, stating that it would create many jobs.
[20] Among the "most significant"[21] actions taken by the Legislature in its 2015 session were three bills that passed over vetoes by governor Pete Ricketts.
The bill was withdrawn without an attempt to override the veto; the state auditor agreed to work with the governor on a new version for the next year's session.