Garofano was nominated to represent Essex Town by fellow Democratic party members at a Dec. 16 meeting. She received 13 votes from Essex Democrats while Brian Shelden received nine. Both of their names were passed on to the governor, who conducted interviews and made the final decision. Scott kept with tradition, appointing a Democrat to fill the seat because Redmond was.

At the Dec. 16 meeting, Garofano told those gathered that her experience as a Vermont state employee, an immigrant and as a mother to a child of color give her a unique and needed perspective. She immigrated to the U.S. from Iran in the 1980s and moved to Essex in 2011.

“I’ve been a volunteer and an organizer in Essex for over a decade, working in various capacities to promote equity and inclusion in and around Essex,” she said. “… I know that many in our community struggle with access to affordable housing, high healthcare costs, and earning a living wage. I will work hard on behalf of Essex to address these challenges in Montpelier.”

Garofano has been a public servant at the State of Vermont for 16 years, serving in various leadership roles supporting Vermonters, including the most vulnerable. She currently serves as a child care quality program administrator at the DCF. Garofano is also on the board of Voices for Inclusion Essex and Westford and the Essex Westford School District Equity Policy advisory committee, which is tasked with implementing the board’s equity policy.

“I am truly honored to be appointed to represent Essex as a state representative,” she stated in the Tuesday release.