{{Short description|American politician (born 1985)}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = Sean Garballey.jpg | name = Sean Garballey | state = Massachusetts | state_house = Massachusetts | district = [[Massachusetts House of Representatives' 23rd Middlesex district|23rd Middlesex]] | term_start = 2008 | predecessor = [[J. James Marzilli Jr.]] | party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | birth_date = {{birth date and age | 1985|02|22}} | alma_mater = [[University of Massachusetts Lowell]] <small> ([[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]], Political Science, 2007)</small> | website = [https://malegislature.gov/People/Profile/S_G1 Massachusetts General Court Member Profile: Sean Garballey] }}
'''Sean Garballey''' (born February 22, 1985) is an American politician, the current [[Massachusetts House of Representatives|Massachusetts State Representative]] for the [[Middlesex County, Massachusetts|23rd Middlesex District]] representing [[Arlington, Massachusetts|Arlington]] and [[Medford, Massachusetts|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]].
==Early life and career== Garballey, born in [[Arlington, Massachusetts]] attended Arlington Public Schools. He earned a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] in Political Science from [[UMass Lowell]] in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Sean P. Garballey '07|url = http://www.uml.edu/News/stories/2010-11/fcl_garballey.aspx|website = www.uml.edu|access-date = 2016-01-01}}</ref> At the time of his election he was enrolled in a dual [[Political Science]] and [[Public Administration]] masters program at [[Suffolk University]], but did not complete the degree.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/bic1/BiographiesDetailsPage/BiographiesDetailsWindow?failOverType=&query=&prodId=BIC1&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&display-query=&mode=view&displayGroupName=Biographies&limiter=&currPage=&disableHighlighting=false&displayGroups=&sortBy=&search_within_results=&p=BIC1&action=e&catId=&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%7CK2416020223&source=Bookmark&u=mlin_n_umass&jsid=7c06c3743274a4796d842f70ba4dc260|title = State Directory|date = 2011|access-date = January 1, 2016|website = Biography in Context|publisher = Gale}}</ref>
==Elections==
While completing college, he was elected to the Arlington School Committee in 2005 serving until 2008.<ref>[http://www.garballey.com/biography.htm Biography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724182830/http://www.garballey.com/biography.htm |date=2008-07-24 }} at ''garballey.com'' (accessed 16 March 2008).</ref>
In the 5 February 2008 special [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] primary election 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%.<ref>Bob Sprague, "[http://www.yourarlington.com/joomla/content/view/973/110/ Garballey tops ticket, faces Worden in March] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120213157/http://www.yourarlington.com/joomla/content/view/973/110/ |date=2008-11-20 }}", ''yourarlington.com'', 5 February 2008 (accessed 16 March 2008).</ref> Garballey went on to face [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] John Worden, former Arlington town moderator, and [[Independent (politician)|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%.<ref>Bob Sprague, "[http://www.yourarlington.com/joomla/content/view/1041/110/ Garballey swamps Worden for state rep] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312140249/http://www.yourarlington.com/joomla/content/view/1041/110/ |date=2008-03-12 }}", 4 March 2008 (accessed 16 March 2008).</ref> Garballey was elected at age 23.<ref>{{Cite news|title = A race among generations|url = http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/02/28/a_race_among_generations/?page=full|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085912/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/02/28/a_race_among_generations/?page=full|url-status = dead|archive-date = March 4, 2016|newspaper = Boston.com|date = 2008-02-28|access-date = 2016-01-01|first = Eric|last = Moskowitz}}</ref>
In 2008 and 2010 Garballey ran unopposed in both the primary and general elections.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Sean Garballey - Ballotpedia|url = http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Sean_Garballey|website = ballotpedia.org|access-date = 2016-01-01}}</ref>
In 2012, Garballey was re-elected.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Sean_Garballey#2012|title=Sean Garballey}}</ref> He defeated Republican Joseph Monju in the general election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Sean_Garballey#2012|title=Sean Garballey}}</ref>
== Committee Assignments == For the 2025-26 Session, Garballey sits on the following committees in the House:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Representative Sean Garballey |url=https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/S_G1/Committees |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=malegislature.gov}}</ref>
* Chairperson, Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development
For the 2021-22 and 2023-24 Session, Garballey sat on the following committees in the House:
* Chairperson, House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change * Joint Committee on Higher Education
For the 2019-20 Session, Garballey sat on the following committees in the House:
* Vice Chair, Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight * House Committee on Ways and Means * Joint Committee on Higher Education * Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development * Joint Committee on Ways and Means
For the 2017-18 Session, Garballey sat on the following committees in the House:
* Vice Chair, Joint Committee on Higher Education * House Committee on Redistricting * House Committee on Ways and Means * Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies * Joint Committee on Ways and Means
For the 2015-16 Session, Garballey sat on the following committees in the House:
* Vice Chair, Joint Committee on Higher Education * House Committee on Technology and Intergovernmental Affairs * House Committee on Ways and Means * Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government * Joint Committee on Ways and Means
For the 2013-14 Session, Garballey sat on the following committees in the House:
* House Committee on Ways and Means * Joint Committee on Health Care Financing * Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government * Joint Committee on Ways and Means
For the 2011-12 Session, Garballey sat on the following committees in the House:
* Vice Chair, Joint Committee on Election Laws * Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government * Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development * Special Joint Committee on Redistricting
For the 2009-10 Session, Garballey sat on the following committees in the House:
* House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change * Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture * Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Public records do not list Garballey's committee assignments from 2008 assignment.
== Caucuses == While Garballey's Legislative profile does not lust his caucus affirmations directly, he is publicly associated with the following:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Representative Sean Garballey |url=https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/S_G1 |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=malegislature.gov}}</ref>
* Member, Foster Care Coalition * Advocate, Food Policy Council Supporter
== Councils == Garballey is involved in the following commissions and councils:
* Proposer, Children's Vision and Eye Health Advisory Council<ref>{{Cite web |title=Representative Sean Garballey |url=https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/S_G1 |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=malegislature.gov}}</ref> * Legislative Supporter - Massachusetts Food Policy Council<ref>{{Cite web |last=Berman |first=Liz |date=2020-12-06 |title=What's in police-reform bill that delegation helped pass |url=https://www.yourarlington.com/news/newscat/359-pol-serve/18058-police-120620.html |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=www.yourarlington.com |language=en-gb}}</ref>
==Issues== In the 2013-2014 legislative session of the Massachusetts General Court, Garballey serves on the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, and the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Member Profile - Sean Garballey|url = https://malegislature.gov/People/Profile/S_G1|website = malegislature.gov|access-date = 2016-01-01}}</ref>
In the 2011-2012 session of the Massachusetts General Court, Garballey served as the vice-chairman to the Joint Committee on Election Laws. He was also appointed to the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development, as well as the Special Joint Committee on Redistricting.
On Education, Garballey, as a member of the Foster Care Coalition, joined Governor Deval Patrick for the signing of An Act Protecting Children in the Care of the Commonwealth.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Governor Signs Bill|url = https://seangarballey.wordpress.com/2008/07/09/an-act-protecting-children-in-the-care-of-the-commonwealth-2/|website = Representative Sean Garballey|date = 9 July 2008|access-date = 2016-01-01}}</ref>
On the Environment, Garballey supported the Oil-Spill Prevention legislation as well as the Creation of the Food Policy Council.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Representative Garballey receives a score of 103 on his Environmental Scorecard!|url = https://seangarballey.wordpress.com/2010/10/13/representative-garballey-receives-a-score-of-103-on-his-environmental-scorecard/|website = Representative Sean Garballey|date = 13 October 2010|access-date = 2016-01-01}}</ref>
==Public office== * Arlington Town Meeting member (2003–2008) * Arlington School Committee (2005–2008) * Massachusetts House of Representatives (2008–present)
==See also== * [[2019–2020 Massachusetts legislature]] * [[2021–2022 Massachusetts legislature]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/s_g1.htm Official House Website] *[http://seangarballey.wordpress.com/ Rep. Garballey's Blog]
{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-ma-hs}} {{succession box | title=[[Massachusetts House of Representatives|Massachusetts State Representative]], [[Middlesex County, Massachusetts|23rd Middlesex District]] | before= [[J. James Marzilli Jr.]] | after= incumbent | years= 2008 - present}} {{s-end}} {{Massachusetts House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Garballey, Sean}} [[Category:1985 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Democratic Party members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives]] [[Category:University of Massachusetts Lowell alumni]] [[Category:Politicians from Arlington, Massachusetts]] [[Category:Arlington High School (Massachusetts) alumni]] [[Category:21st-century members of the Massachusetts General Court]]