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 Sean Garballey, right, with his twin brother, James; his sister, Bridgett; as well as his mother and father, Maureen and Jim.
Democrat Sean Garballey, a 23-year-old vice chairman of the Arlington School Committee, beat John Worden, 69, a Republican, in the special election for state representative for Arlington and West Medford. He becomes the youngest state rep on Beacon Hill. According to unofficial returns reported tonight at Garballey headquarters at the Arlington American Legion, the graduate student received 3,951 votes to 1,727 for the former longtime Arlington Town Moderator. Independent Robert Valeri, an Arlington businessman got 223 votes.
Town of Arlington unofficial election results (.pdf)
 After 23-year-old tops Worden for state rep seat, 3,951 to 1,727, Sen. Jim Marzilli and Lt. Gov. Tim Murray present winner with a State House tie.
Garbally took 68.5 percent of the vote in the heavily Democratic district. Worden got 29 percent.
The representative fills the seat until next fall. The seat was vacated after Jim Marzilli ran and won in December the Senate seat that Robert Havern had held until he left last August to become a lobbyist.
Voting took place in 15 Arlington precincts and three in West Medford.
When Mike McCabe, the former longtime principal of Thompson School, read the final tally, supporters sent up a cheer that drowned out the count. Garballey was not in the hall for the announcement -- he was just outside the front door shaking hands in the light rain.
All returns were written on a large sheet of paper posted on the wall.
Those from three West Medford precincts broke down this way: Garballey (385), Worden (182) and Valeri (38).
Unofficial returns from Arlington precincts were as follows:
Precinct Garballey Worden Valeri
1 143 30 29
3 119 50 6
5 204 41 9
6 146 65 8
7 162 56 4
8 232 201 8
9 357 87 10
10 273 137 7
11 277 125 22
12 278 159 11
13 259 141 16
15 268 133 15
16 249 126 8
18 229 109 17
19 270 85 17
In the Feb. 5 primary, Garballey received 5,741 votes to Jeffrey Thielman's 5,321, and first-time candidate Andrew O'Brien got 1,280 votes.
The Advocate reported Garballey said:
"I think my message was about a conversation with people, and I think it resonated with people of this district And now I think we can continue this dialogue throughout at least the next six months or whenever my term expires and really try to bring in the people’s voice, and work with them to use my best judgment as a state legislator.”
The Advocate quoted Worden:
“That's the first election I've ever lost,” Worden said. “I think it's the people who can't bring themselves to vote past their democratic affiliation."
Despite his third-place finish, Valeri provided a statement to YourArlington:
"I would like to congratulate Sean and his staff on an excellent campaign. It was well-organized and energetic from the start. I've told him this personally. I'd also like to offer the same sentiments to John Worden and his staff.
"I feel that Arlington had 3 candidates with the best interests of the town at heart, but there could only be one winner. The same can be said for Andy O'Brien and Jeff Thielman.
"One of my own campaign themes was a strong feeling that the PEOPLE should be the ones to decides issues, whether by voicing opinions, or initiative petitions/ballot questions. In this race, the people have spoken loudly and clearly. Best wishes to Sean in his new Office. We should all stand behind him for the benefit of Arlington."
Primary results: Garballey wins, faces Worden
Readers have left 2 comments.  1. Congratulations SeanCarl Grivakis, UnregisteredGood work Sean, I'm glad to see you won, this was a hard fought race and you deserve it. 2. Your Comments are welcome ...Bob Sprague, Super Administrator ... to have them remain on the site, you must sign your full name. Thanks.
Bob Sprague |
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