Sean Garballey
Encyclopedia
Sean Garballey is the current Massachusetts State Representative
for the 23rd Middlesex District
representing Arlington
and West Medford
. He was elected in a special election on 4 March 2008, after the incumbent, J. James Marzilli, Jr.
won a 2007 special election for a seat in the Massachusetts Senate
.
, was later adopted along with his identical twin brother James, attended Arlington Public Schools, earned a B.A.
in Political Science from UMass Lowell, and is currently enrolled in a dual Political Science and Public Administration masters program at Suffolk University
. While attending UMass Lowell, he was elected to the Arlington School Committee in 2005 serving until 2008. While serving on the school committee he was elected vice-chair.
On the 5 February 2008 special Democratic
primary race for the 23rd Middlesex District seat, Garballey faced off against fellow school committee member Jeff Thielman and first time candidate Andrew O'Brien. Garballey received 47% of the vote, with Thielman taking 43% and O'Brien taking 10%. Garballey went on to face Republican
John Worden, former Arlington town moderator, and Independent
Robert Valeri, a local businessman. Garballey won the 4 March 2008 special election with 67% of the vote. Worden received 29%, and Valeri received 4%. During the campaign Garballey was endorsed by Governor Deval Patrick
, Lt. Governor Tim Murray and US Representative Ed Markey
.
In his first and second elections for full terms, in 2008 and 2010, Garballey ran unopposed in both the primary and general elections. In the 2011-2012 session of the Massachusetts General Court, Garballey serves as the Vice-Chairman to the Joint Committee on Election Laws. He was also appointed to the Special Committee on Redistricting.
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
for the 23rd Middlesex District
Middlesex County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge* Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge* Longfellow National Historic Site* Lowell National Historical Park* Minute Man National Historical Park* Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge...
representing Arlington
Arlington, Massachusetts
Arlington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, six miles northwest of Boston. The population was 42,844 at the 2010 census.-History:...
and West Medford
Medford, Massachusetts
Medford is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States, on the Mystic River, five miles northwest of downtown Boston. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Medford's population was 56,173...
. He was elected in a special election on 4 March 2008, after the incumbent, J. James Marzilli, Jr.
J. James Marzilli, Jr.
Joseph James Marzilli, Jr. was a member of the Massachusetts Senate. Marzilli, a Democrat, was elected to the Senate in a special election in December 2007, representing the communities of Arlington, Billerica, Burlington, Lexington and Woburn partway through his ninth term in the Massachusetts...
won a 2007 special election for a seat in the Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts Senate
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
.
Early life and career
Garballey, born in Arlington, MassachusettsArlington, Massachusetts
Arlington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, six miles northwest of Boston. The population was 42,844 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, was later adopted along with his identical twin brother James, attended Arlington Public Schools, earned a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Political Science from UMass Lowell, and is currently enrolled in a dual Political Science and Public Administration masters program at Suffolk University
Suffolk University
Suffolk University is a private, non-sectarian, university located in Boston, Massachusetts and with over 16,000 students it is the third largest university in Boston...
. While attending UMass Lowell, he was elected to the Arlington School Committee in 2005 serving until 2008. While serving on the school committee he was elected vice-chair.
On the 5 February 2008 special Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
primary race for the 23rd Middlesex District seat, Garballey faced off against fellow school committee member Jeff Thielman and first time candidate Andrew O'Brien. Garballey received 47% of the vote, with Thielman taking 43% and O'Brien taking 10%. Garballey went on to face Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
John Worden, former Arlington town moderator, and Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
Robert Valeri, a local businessman. Garballey won the 4 March 2008 special election with 67% of the vote. Worden received 29%, and Valeri received 4%. During the campaign Garballey was endorsed by Governor Deval Patrick
Deval Patrick
Deval Laurdine Patrick is the 71st and current Governor of Massachusetts. A member of the Democratic Party, Patrick served as an Assistant United States Attorney General under President Bill Clinton...
, Lt. Governor Tim Murray and US Representative Ed Markey
Ed Markey
Edward John "Ed" Markey is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1976. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes most of Boston's northern and western suburbs, such as Medford and Framingham. Markey is the Dean of both the Massachusetts and New England House delegations...
.
In his first and second elections for full terms, in 2008 and 2010, Garballey ran unopposed in both the primary and general elections. In the 2011-2012 session of the Massachusetts General Court, Garballey serves as the Vice-Chairman to the Joint Committee on Election Laws. He was also appointed to the Special Committee on Redistricting.
Public office
- Arlington Town Meeting member (2003–2008)
- Arlington School Committee (2005–2008)
- Vice-chair of School Committee (2007–2008)
- Massachusetts House of Representatives (2008–present)