About Senator Garrett

State Senator Senator Garrett is currently serving her third term in the Illinois Senate (2002-present) and was named Majority Caucus Whip for the 97th General Assembly by Senate President John Cullerton. Prior to serving in the Senate, Sen. Garrett served two terms in the Illinois House of Representatives (1998-2001). Her district includes parts of Lake and suburban Cook Counties, including all or part of the following communities: Bannockburn, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Fort Sheridan, Glencoe, Glenview, Highland Park, Highwood, Knollwood, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Mount Prospect, Niles, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, and Riverwoods.

As a community advocate, businesswoman, and respected leader, Sen. Garrett brings an outstanding record of success to the 29th District. She continues to focus on the quality-of-life issues that have been her platform for many years: more accessible health care, quality education, well-planned communities, and economic development. Sen. Garrett has always made it a priority to be highly accessible to all of her constituents. She holds regular town hall meetings to hear directly from residents about the issues that are important to them, sometimes developing legislation from the ideas that come out of these meetings. She strongly believes that our government as a whole should be open and accessible to Illinois residents.

Sen. Garrett was named chair of the Senate Commerce Committee in January 2011. She also serves on the Revenue, Education, Public Health and Local Government Committees. Her priorities for 2011-2012 include fostering new business in Illinois-Garrett will be working to ensure that business, government, and academia work together to improve our state's economy.

While the Senate is in session in Springfield during the week, Susan comes home to her district on the weekends and often reaches out to residents through forums, programs, and town hall meetings.

Susan earned her bachelor's degree from Lake Forest College. She and her husband Scott reside in Lake Forest and have two grown children, Brett and Elizabeth.

The Garrett family, 2006.