Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 9; Democratic Party

His Family Taught Chris About Hard Work

The Garland family history follows the American migration from southern agricultural fields to the industrial Northeast. As in many families, education played a critical role + taking Chris from his blue-collar roots to Washington, DC, and ultimately to Sacramento.

Chris' grandmother worked for 25 years in a packing plant. His mom's work in an office and the wages and benefits from his Dad's union refinery job helped move the family into home ownership and the middle class. The Garland family played by the rules, volunteered to improve their local community, and made sure Chris understood how important education would be for his future.

Chris was the first in his family to earn a college degree. Paying his way through college with student loans and working multiple jobs, he earned a political science degree from the University of Alabama.

It was there that Chris' lifelong commitment to civil and human rights went from a concept to a cause when a cross burning on campus made him understand that the fight for equality and the importance of sticking to your principles is never-ending.

College Education Helped Chris Find His Passion

After college, Chris went to work in Congress for a key member of the Budget Committee. Democrats were in the minority, so he quickly learned the importance of working across the aisle and staying focused on protecting the families back home.

Chris left the Hill to help elect forward-thinking Democrats to local, state, and national office. He's proud to have launched an effort that registered more than 100,000 Democratic women in 13 states and to have developed advanced voter targeting that helped Planned Parenthood, the Sierra Club and organized labor turn out its members for progressive candidates.

Chris came to California to serve as Deputy Director of the Speaker's Office of Member Services. His responsibilities included helping newly elected Assemblymembers develop their legislative packages and organize constituent outreach.

With Democratic values under attack from Governor Schwarzenegger in the 2005 special election, Chris joined the fight to protect working families. Armed with the best team of volunteers ever assembled from labor and progressive groups from throughout Sacramento County, Chris was a leader in defeating the governor's power grab.

Chris joined the staff of the California Faculty Association, which represents more than 20,000 professors, coaches, counselors and librarians on the 23 campuses of the California State University system. Through his work, he's fought to bring transparency to government, expose waste and abuse by university officials, reduce skyrocketing tuition and recruit and retain a top-notch staff. His work forged his commitment to revitalizing our educational system and ensuring that all students have the opportunity to succeed.

Chris spent his life living up to the standards his family set for him: respecting others, standing up for what you believe in, and being honest and compassionate. Now he wants to go to the Assembly and fight for what we need + world-class education, goodpaying jobs, and quality, affordable health care