E. Scott Garrett

E. Scott Garrett, a Republican, has represented the Fifth Congressional District of District of New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2003.

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Bio
Garrett was born July 9, 1959 in Englewood, New Jersey. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Montclair State University in 1981 and a J.D. from Rutgers School of Law in Camden in 1984.

Prior to being elected to the House, Garrett served in the New Jersey General Assembly (the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature) from 1990 to 2002 representing the 24th legislative district, covering all of Sussex County and several municipalities in Morris and Hunterdon counties.

Congressional career
He made two previous runs for the 5th District seat in the Republican primary, but was defeated each time by longtime incumbent Marge Roukema. When Roukema decided not to seek a 12th term in 2002, Garrett ran for and won the Republican nomination despite Roukema endorsing his major opponent. He faced Anne Sumers, a former Republican turned Democrat, in the general election. Sumers' chances decreased significantly after she made several ill-advised comments about the U.S.-Taliban conflict on an Internet message board, and Garrett won in a rout. He was reelected almost as easily in 2004 with 58% of the vote. He declined to debate Anne Wolfe, his Democratic opponent, several times.

Garrett is one of the most conservative Republicans to represent New Jersey in Congress in a long time. He has the highest rating from the American Conservative Union of any congressman from the Northeast, at a perfect 100.

2006 elections
In 2006, the Democrats nominated Paul Aronsohn to face Garrett in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Garrett retained his seat.

Money in politics
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Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Financial Services
 * Subcommitee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises
 * Subcommitee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
 * Subcommitee on Housing and Community Opportunity
 * House Committee on Budget

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * House Committee on Budget
 * House Committee on Financial Services
 * Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
 * Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

More Background Data

 * 2006 New Jersey CD 5 Candidate List from VIS

Articles and Resources

 * Official website
 * Campaign website
 * bioguide.congress.gov Official bio for Scott Garrett
 * Criticism of Scott Garrett
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Blue Jersey