Garner seeks District 27 Senate seat
EL DORADO — Trent Garner is seeking the Arkansas Senate District 27 seat in the Nov. 8 General Election.
Garner, 32, a Republican, is challenging incumbent Democrat Bobby Pierce.
Garner is an attorney, and he is currently working for U.S. Senator Tom Cotton. He has not held elected office before, but he is a veteran.
“I served my country as a Special Forces Green Beret with two tours in Afghanistan. I want to take that same service to Little Rock as a state senator,” Garner said.
He resides in El Dorado with his wife, Kelly, and their newborn son, Lincoln.
“I am a sixth generation Arkansan raised in Ouachita County,” Garner said. “And I learned about service to others at a young age from my parents.”
Garner’s mother was a kindergarten teacher at Harmony Grove Elementary and his father served as a full-time soldier with the Arkansas National Guard.
Garner said he witnessed the sacrifices teachers make for their students on a daily basis. He also learned a sense of duty to his country by experiencing his dad’s deployment to Saudi Arabia.
While he was a junior at Harmony Grove High School, Trent joined the Arkansas National Guard as an infantryman. He had already completed his basic training when the tragic attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 occurred.
Motivated by a desire to serve and confront those who attacked his country, Trent joined a program to become a Green Beret after he graduated high school.
“After taking part in one of the toughest selection programs in the military, I was selected to begin training for Special Forces,” Garner said.
H e trained for over two years before he earned his green beret. He served two tours in Afghanistan with 3rd Special Forces Group, including one of the largest combat operations known as “Operation Medusa.” Garner’s military decorations include Bronze Star with V device, Combat Infantry Badge and Special Forces Tab.
After he received an honorable discharge at the rank of staff sergeant, Garner started college at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. He graduated magna cum laude with a major in Political Science and minor in Business.
He attended University of Arkansas School of Law, where he graduated with a Juris Doctor and Master in Arts in Political Science.
Garner currently serves the people of South Arkansas as a representative for Senator Tom Cotton.
He is a lifetime member of the NRA, a member of the Union County Republican Committee, a member of the Union County American Legion, and attends Cavalry Baptist Church in East Camden.
“I earned three degrees in 6 years, including a Masters in Political Science and Law Degree from the University of Arkansas,” Garner said.
Creating jobs will be a top priority for Garner, if elected.
“A new direction for District 27 starts with the most important issue; creating jobs,” Garner said. “We have to grow the economy so that the people of Arkansas can find good paying jobs. We need to foster an environment where small businesses can flourish.”
Garner said South Arkansas needs to use the area’s natural resources such as timber, oil, and
lignite to grow the economy.
“Our district can become the top defense industry leader in the nation,” he said. “As your next state senator, I will be the right leader to apply free-market, conservative principles to create economic growth in the district.”
Garner said the Legislature has to “stop spending money we do not have on programs that just do not work.”
“When I am elected, I will support smaller government that gets rid of waste and fraud, will put more power in the hands of the people of Arkansas, and will create economic growth,” he said. “We have to reduce our tax burden to make us competitive with other states when attracting new businesses in the district.”
As the son of a Kindergarten teacher, Garner said he knows how important education is to the people of Arkansas.
“We have a duty to support our hardworking teachers. We have an opportunity to give a better education to our children,” Garner said. “Our district is fortunate to have two great public community colleges in Southern Arkansas University Tech and South Arkansas Community College, and I will do everything I can to support these colleges.”
Garner said the state needs a smarter, more conservative government that puts control back in the hands of the people.
“My opponent is an out of touch career politician who cares more about supporting President Obama’s radical agenda in Arkansas than helping us move in a new direction,” Garner said. “My opponent voted to raise our taxes by $2.9 billion, supported Obamacare in Arkansas, and voted against giving our hard-working teachers a pay raise.”
Garner said he is honored to be supported by Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin, and the conservative leadership in the state House and Senate.
“Also, I am honored to have national leaders like Senator Tom Cotton and Congressman Bruce Westerman supporting my campaign,” he said.
Garner said his strongest character trait is determination. “As a former soldier, we were taught to fight hard for our country and not go give up when the going gets tough,” Garner said. “In the state Senate, I will work hard for the people of south Arkansas and do the right thing even if it is the hard thing.”
The last book Garner read was “Inside The Arkansas Legislature” by Bill “Scoop” Lancaster.
“The book gives an excellent history of our Arkansas legislature and prior leaders in state government,” Garner said. “The book has given me a better understanding of how to be an effective legislator once I am elected.”
Garner enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family.
“I am a combat veteran, conservative Christian who will be the right leader to take us in a new direction,” Garner said. “South Arkansas needs a change, and I am the right leader to take us in a new direction.”