 Garvin won the June 1977 Democratic Party primary for the Assembly from the 26th District together with Richard Codey after incumbent Eldridge Hawkins unsuccessfully challenged Frank J. Dodd for his seat in the New Jersey Senate.After being elected to the Assembly, Garvin was appointed to serve on the Education Committee, building on her 12 years of service on the East Orange Board of Education.In redistricting following the 1980 United States Census, Garvin was shifted to the 27th District, where she served three terms of office.