The following article appeared in the Central Virginian on June 21, 2007

Tom Garrett Jr. has announced he will challenge incumbent R. Don Short for commonwealth's attorney in Louisa this November. He was the first candidate to officially declare his intention to seek the office this year.

The chairman of the Louisa Republican Committee is running on the Republican ticket after gaining the local party's nomination on June 8. Short, who is seeking reelection as an Independent, is a former chairman of the Louisa Democratic Committee.

Garrett is a graduate of Louisa County High School and earned his law degree from T. C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond. He has taken a leave of absence from his duties as assistant attorney general for the state of Virginia to campaign.

"I know that there haven't been many people in the past who ran for constitutional office under a party label," said Garrett in an interview. "I also know the value of being honest with people. As chairman of the Louisa Republican Committee, I feel that it is appropriate to run as a Republican.

"My opponent has been the chairman of the Louisa Democratic Committee for several years in the past. To me, to call to order a meeting of Republicans on Monday and then ask for votes as an Independent on Tuesday is disingenuous, at best, and dishonest at worst. That's not who I am. I believe in being straight with people, because if you are not, you have no right to expect the same in return."

Garrett decided to seek the post because he believes there is a need for a change in Louisa County.

"In Louisa County, we have a situation where I think there are clearly distinguishable differences between what is considered justice in Louisa and what is considered justice once you cross into surrounding county lines," he said.

Garrett says he will bring his experience working as a special assistant to the U. S. attorney and assistant attorney general, and his professional relationships with the FBI, Virginia State Police, Immigrations Customs Enforcement and Postal Services Inspections to the commonwealth's attorney's office.

The candidate contends that it is time for him to give back to the community, something instilled in him by his parents, Tom and Lois Garrett.

"I'm fortunate to have had the parents that I have, and had the opportunity to grow up where I did," said Garrett. "The highest calling is to serve other people. This office is an opportunity for me to do that."

As a prosecutor, Garrett feels strongly that the commonwealth's attorney should be an administrator of laws, which have already been passed.

"Because one might disagree with sentencing guidelines or with recommended sentences, or one may not think that certain things are appropriate in certain instances, you know, that person needs to run for the legislature and change the law," he said. "The commonwealth's attorney's role is essentially the last link in the chain in law enforcement, and absolutely, the cliché is true, no chain is stronger than its weakest link."

Garrett said that law enforcement in Louisa County, whether it's the sheriff's office, troopers or game warden, all do an admirable job. He spoke about the sheriff's office's K-9 program and the bloodhound unit which has gained national recognition.

"But a lot of times, based on what I hear from my neighbors and from people in the law enforcement community, it's like a baseball team that takes a three to one lead in the ninth and the closer blows the save," said Garrett. "Based on everything I've heard [Short] is a good fellow … but before he was an attorney he was a social worker, and he prosecutes like a social worker. Before I was an attorney I was a soldier, and I'll prosecute, I think, more precisely and according to the orders that are handed down by those people who make the laws."

However, he pointed out that each case rises and falls on its own merits. Compassion and consideration for others, he said, need to be preeminent in everyone's daily life as they execute their jobs.

"So, you don't treat a 20-year-old who is a good student and who has had their nose clean for 20 years and makes one poor decision the same way you would treat the 40-year-old repeat offender," said Garrett. "That's obvious. But, again, when two adults solicit sex from underage children in Louisa County and drive down and execute their scheme preying on our children, 50 hours of community service with absolutely no active jail time is not appropriate either."

Garrett has extensive experience prosecuting child predators, and persons who have committed identity theft, computer fraud, online scams and Medicaid fraud cases.

The candidate believes that law enforcement in Louisa County is already far too taxed for a police officer, a deputy or trooper "to have their time wasted because someone in the commonwealth's attorney's office didn't have the common courtesy to make a phone call."

According to Garrett, there have been occasions when a detective has sat in court for hours only to learn that the case was resolved a week or so earlier.

"If you want to respect the law enforcement community, have somebody who feels like they are a part of it," he said. "The sheriff's office and the prosecutor's office should not have an adversarial relationship. They should work together. The prosecutor has to realize that he has to be part of the law enforcement chain."

Officers risk their lives, literally, said Garrett, who cited a case where a man shot at law enforcement helicopters and vehicles near Jouett Elementary School after barricading himself in a shed. He feels the perpetrator should have received a stiffer sentence.

"But that comes back to attitude and how you prosecute that crime," said Garrett. "An easy way to facilitate empathy is to understand that you are on the same team, and that's not the impression I get. If you don't believe me, if you think I'm a guy jockeying for position to get elected to commonwealth's attorney in Louisa County, then don't ask me, go ask a deputy."

The vast bulk of citizens in Louisa are honest, law abiding people, he said, who have not been victims of a crime and have not been exposed to the system.

"But if you ask somebody who has been the victim of a crime, if you ask somebody in law enforcement who has to work to investigate and close these cases whether they think the county is well served," he said, "I think I know what the answer is."

The candidate acknowledges that it will be a challenge for him to unseat an incumbent, but he is confident that his philosophy for the office is best for the citizens.

"But if you've got one version of justice on the Goochland side of the line and one version of justice on the Louisa County side of the line, then you don't have any justice at all," said Garrett. "By its very definition, justice has to be blind and it has to be equal."

During Garrett's army career, he served at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, Ft. Hood, Germany and was deployed in support of Operation Joint Guard in Bosnia. He achieved the rank of captain when he was honorably discharged and served as an operations officer in the 214th Brigade.

Garrett is sworn to practice law in both Virginia and the United States Federal Court.

The candidate and his wife, Dana, have two children, Carolyn, 8, and Laura, 5, and live in Bumpass. He is a member of Holly Grove Ruritan Club, American Legion Post 116, Thompson-Hall Chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police. The family divides Sundays between Gilboa Christian Church and New Life Community Church.