After unsuccessful campaigns in 1980 and 1994, when he won the Democratic primary but lost the general election, Gallitano was elected to the Massachusetts State Representative for the First Plymouth District in 1996. He served 2 years and lost re-election by 11 votes in 1998. He was appointed the first House Historian of the Massachusetts State House. He also served as a Selectman for the town of Plymouth from 1979 to 1982 and was appointed town counsel for the town of Kingston.
