Garth David Everett[1] (January 28, 1954 – January 28, 2023) was an American politician who served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 84th district from 2007 to 2020.

Garth D. Everett
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 84th district
In office
January 2, 2007 – November 30, 2020
Preceded byBrett Feese
Succeeded byJoseph D. Hamm
Personal details
Born(1954-01-28)January 28, 1954
Montoursville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJanuary 28, 2023(2023-01-28) (aged 69)
Williamsport, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Susan S. Schultz
(m. 1976)
Children2
EducationPennsylvania State University (BS, JD)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Air Force
Years of service1976–1997
Rank Lieutenant colonel

Early life, education, and military career

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Everett was born on January 28, 1954 in Montoursville, Pennsylvania to parents Maxine (née Schrader) and David Everett. He graduated from Montoursville Area High School in 1972. Everett earned a ROTC scholarship to Colby College in Maine, before transferring to Pennsylvania State University after two years when the college's ROTC program was shut down.[2] He earned a bachelor of science degree in business from Pennsylvania State University in 1976. The same year Everett joined the United States Air Force. He retired from the Air Force at the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1997. He later earned a juris doctor degree from Dickinson School of Law in 2000.[1]

Political Career

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In 2006, Everett was elected to represent the 84th district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He was continuously reelected until his retirement in 2020.[1] During his final term, Everett chaired the House State Government Committee.[3] In his role as chair, Everett pushed for a ban on lawmakers receiving gifts from lobbyists.[4] He also oversaw the advancement of an omnibus bill that expanded mail-in voting and voter registration and eliminated straight ticket voting.[5]

Ahead of the 2020 United States presidential election, Everett introduced a resolution that would have established a select committee to oversee the integrity of the upcoming election.[6] The committee would have the power to subpoena, investigate county election operations, and subsequently suggest changes to the state election code. Democrats opposed the establishment of the committee, claiming it would enable Republicans to override the election results after President Donald Trump stoked pre-election claims of ballot fraud.[6][7] Everett's resolution to establish the committee was never voted on by the State House after the House session was postponed due to a lawmaker's COVID-19 diagnosis.[6][8]

Personal life and death

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Everett met his wife, the former Susan S. Schultz, in high school and married her in 1976. The couple had two daughters.[2]

Everett died in Williamsport, Pennsylvania on January 28, 2023, his 69th birthday.[9] At the time, Everett had been fighting cancer for 18 years.[2]

Electoral history

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2006 Pennsylvania House of Representatives Republican primary election, District 84[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Garth Everett 3,931 65.41
Republican Russell C. Reitz 1,158 19.27
Republican Carla O. Auten 921 15.32
Total votes 6,010 100.00
2006 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, District 84[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Garth Everett 11,585 63.30
Democratic Thomas Paternostro 6,697 36.59
Write-in 21 0.11
Total votes 18,303 100.00
2008 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, District 84[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Garth Everett 20,888 99.36
Write-in 135 0.64
Total votes 21,023 100.00
2010 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, District 84[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Garth Everett 15,710 99.00
Write-in 159 1.00
Total votes 15,869 100.00
2012 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, District 84[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Garth Everett 20,265 99.05
Write-in 195 0.95
Total votes 15,869 100.00
2014 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, District 84[15][16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Garth Everett 13,750 79.89
Democratic Kristen Hayes 3,462 20.11
Total votes 17,212 100.00
2016 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, District 84[17][18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Garth Everett Unopposed
Total votes 24,765 100.00
2018 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, District 84[19][20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Garth Everett 18,192 78.85
Democratic Lina Kay Sosniak 4,855 21.04
Write-in 25 0.11
Total votes 23,072 100.00

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Garth D. Everett". Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Obituary for Garth D. Everett". McCarty-Thomas Funeral Home, Inc. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  3. ^ Caruso, Stephen (January 7, 2020). "House GOP retirements continue, as State Government Committee chair announces exit". Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  4. ^ Caruso, Stephen (November 19, 2019). "Pa. House Committee advances gift ban bill". Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  5. ^ Caruso, Stephen (October 22, 2019). "Amid Democratic dissent, brokered election reform bill advances in the Pa. House". Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Caruso, Stephen (October 1, 2020). "CIVIL RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE ELECTION 2020 GOVERNMENT & POLITICS After fiery unveiling, some Republicans express concern with House election integrity panel". Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  7. ^ Scolforo, Mark (September 30, 2020). "Pa. House GOP pushes ahead plan for committee to investigate election processes". WIFT. The Associated Press. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  8. ^ "Regular Session 2019-2020 House Resolution 1032". Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  9. ^ Beauge, John (January 29, 2023). "Retired 7-term GOP Pa. House member dies on 69th birthday". PennLive Patriot-News. Advance Local Media LLC. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  10. ^ "2006 General Primary Tuesday, May 16, 2006 Official Returns LYCOMING". electionreturns.pa.gov. Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  11. ^ "Election Summary Report Lycoming County, Pennsylvania General Election November 7, 2006 Summary For Jurisdiction Wide, All Counters, All Races OFFICIAL RESULTS 2006 GENERAL" (PDF). Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  12. ^ "Election Summary Report LYCOMING COUNTY, PA GENERAL ELECTION Summary For Jurisdiction Wide, All Counters, All Races 11/4/2008 OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. p. 2. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  13. ^ "Election Summary Report Lycoming County, PA General Election November 2, 2010 Summary For Jurisdiction Wide, All Counters, All Races OFFICIAL RESULTS NOVEMBER 2, 2010" (PDF). Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. November 9, 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  14. ^ "Election Summary Report LYCOMING COUNTY, PA GENERAL ELECTION Summary For Jurisdiction Wide, All Counters, All Races Novenber {sic} 6, 2012 OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. November 20, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  15. ^ "2014 General Election Tuesday, November 4, 2014 Official Returns UNION". electionreturns.pa.gov. Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  16. ^ "Election Summary Report Lycoming County, PA General Election Summary For Jurisdiction Wide, POL+ABS, All Races 11/4/2014 OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. November 12, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  17. ^ "2016 Presidential Election Tuesday, November 8, 2016 Official Returns UNION". electionreturns.pa.gov. Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  18. ^ "2016 Presidential Election Tuesday, November 8, 2016 Official Returns LYCOMING". electionreturns.pa.gov. Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  19. ^ "Election Summary Report Lycoming County, PA November 6, 2018 General Election Official Election Results" (PDF). Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. November 14, 2018. p. 2. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  20. ^ "Election Summary Report Union County, PA November 6, 2018 General Election". Union County, PA. November 13, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
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