New lawmaker is only 23 years old

(Joanne Rathe/Globe Staff)

Garballey got a little star power from Governor Deval Patrick when he campaigned in mid-February.

By John Laidler, Globe Correspondent

It's not a bad gig for a 23-year-old. Sean Garballey will be joining the Great and General Court of Massachusetts -- the state Legislature -- after winning a special election today for a vacant House seat.

The Arlington Democrat, a School Committee member, defeated Republican John L. Worden III and Independent Robert V. Valeri, both of Arlington, to earn the 23d Middlesex House seat vacated when James Marzilli won a special election for state Senate last December.

Garballey had 3,591 votes to 1,727 for Worden, a former town moderator, and 222 for Valeri, a former town meeting member, in the district that includes parts of Arlington and Medford.

Interviewed by phone from his victory celebration at the American Legion Hall in Arlington, Garballey said he was thrilled.

"It's not every day a young person gets elected to the state Legislature," said Garballey, who was elected to town meeting at age 18 and to the School Committee at age 20.

A 2007 graduate of UMass Lowell, he is now enrolled in a dual master's program in public administration and political science at Suffolk University.

Calling his campaign a "conversation with voters" on how he could improve their quality of life, he said, "I think people had confidence in my ability to do that. I will not take it for granted."

The special election was one of four to fill state House seats yesterday.

In other races, Melrose Democrat Katherine M. Clark won the 32d Middlesex seat; Marblehead Democrat Lori Ehrlich won the Eighth Essex seat; and Fall River Democrat Kevin Aguiar won the Seventh Bristol seat.

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