Anthony Verrelli once walked into the Statehouse wearing a tool belt, and now he will go in there as a voting member of that statewide governing body.

Verrelli – president of Carpenters Local 254 – tonight prevailed in his bid to fill the LD15 Assembly vacancy.

He won by five votes over rival Jeff Laurenti.

99-94.

Outdueled in his first bid for an LD15 vacancy when Liz Muoio went to the Murphy Administration to serve as treasury secretary, Verrelli – a Mercer County Freeholder – tonight won the assembly seat vacated by Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora.

Laurrenti and Verrelli went head to head on a second ballot after Fatima Mughal failed to get enough votes in the first ballot.

“We have a new assemblyman, exulted Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes. “Anthony deserves it. After he lost the first time, he didn’t take his ball and go home.”

“The Democratic Party in Hunterdon County was happy to support Anthony,” said Hunterdon County Democratic Committee Chair Arlene Quinones Perez. “Between Verlina [Reynolds Jackson] and Anthony we are confident we have a team that will represent Hunterdon well.”