Garballey Wins Decisively

Captures Two-Thirds of Vote in State Rep Race

A jubilant Sean Garballey talks with supporters at his victory party at Arlington’s American Legion Post 39 Tuesday night.

– Allison Goldsberry

The race to win Jim Marzilli’s former state representative seat ended Tuesday night with a decisive win for 23-year-old Sean Garballey.

The full-time grad student and Arlington native took 67% of the total vote, according to preliminary results. Garballey, a Democrat, earned 3,951 votes, compared to 1,727 for Republican John Worden and 223 for independent candidate Robert Valeri.

Both Arlington and Medford officials reported low turnout. According to the Medford Registrar of Voters, turnout hovered around 10% in Medford’s three voting precincts.

In Medford Garballey captured 485 votes and won each of the three precincts- 3-2, 6-1, and 6-2. He also easily won each of Arlington’s fifteen voting precincts.

Garballey, currently Vice Chairman of the Arlington School Committee, said he would not run for his School Committee seat when it comes up for election in April. He said he wants to devote his time to being a state representative and a student.

The UMass-Lowell grad is currently earning a Master’s degree at Suffolk University in political science and public administration.

Garballey said he didn’t expect to win by such a large margin against Worden, who served as Arlington’s Town Moderator for two decades. He thanked his volunteers for their commitment and for their “very aggressive” campaigning in the last few days.

Though ecstatic to be the district’s newly elected state rep, Garballey is focused on the future.

“The campaign’s over now, but the hard work’s just beginning,” said Garballey.

Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, who made in appearance in Arlington over the weekend to endorse Garballey, and Senator Marzilli stopped by Garballey’s victory party Tuesday night at the Arlington’s American Legion Post 39.

Garballey was elected in a special election today to serve out the remainder of the two-year term, which ends in November. The seat will be up for election again at that time.

More…

YourArlington.com’s race coverage

InsideMedford.com’s special web page devoted to the race

Unofficial results from Arlington Town Clerk