About Senator Garrett

Susan is currently serving her second term in the Illinois Senate (2002-present). Prior to serving in the Senate, Susan 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, State Senator Susan 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, and well-planned community development. Susan 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.

Susan is currently chair of the Senate Public Health Committee and vice-chair of the State Government and Veterans Affairs Committee. She also serves on the Human Services, Education, and Appropriations I committees. Her priorities for 2007 and 2008 include reduction of greenhouse gases in Illinois, continuing government ethics reform, and, as chair of the Public Health Committee, improving access to health care, especially for the under- and uninsured. Five years ago Susan formed a Blue Ribbon Committee on Health Care in Lake County, and that committee continues to pursue innovative approaches to providing health care services to those in need.

During the past year, Susan passed ground-breaking legislation to limit the use of eminent domain and protect the rights of Illinois property owners. She has also been at the forefront of government ethics reform and continues to monitor and work to improve transparency in all areas of state government. Susan has been working with the Metropolitan Planning Council and Openlands to ensure a safe and sufficient water supply for northern Illinois. She continues to work with the Lake County Commuter Coalition to find ways to facilitate commuting to and from the northern suburbs.

Susan has hosted educational forums on many topics, including energy rates, saving money on phone and electricity bills, protecting the rights of bank customers, and the federal No Child Left Behind Act. 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, 2007.