Michael McLachlan is the Republican candidate for the Connecticut State Senate in the 24th District representing Danbury, Bethel, New Fairfield and Sherman. Mike is a tireless advocate for responsive government, education, open space preservation and lower taxes. A community leader with a passion for improving our quality of life, Mike has worked quietly for many years knitting together coalitions and projects to benefit Western Connecticut and he believes passionately that a good leader must be a good listener, excel at finding solutions and take action to get results.

Michael McLachlan is a Danbury native with deep roots in the community. The youngest of Harry & Helen “Sis” (Deakin) McLachlan’s seven children, Mike was raised in Danbury and attended local schools.

His great-grandfather, Harry McLachlan, founded the H. McLachlan Company in 1892 and went on to become one of the largest rough hat manufacturers in the United States. His grandfather, Gus Deakin, was the Town Clerk of Danbury and active in Democratic politics for nearly fifty years. Mike’s ancestors were members of Danbury’s founding families that settled here in 1685.

As a student at Danbury High School, Mike excelled in school and community service activities with the Key Club. As a junior he was elected Lt. Governor of the New England District of Key Clubs and served as Governor in his senior year, travelling across the six New England states and representing the district at the Key Club International convention in Anaheim, California.

Active in politics since the age of 10, Mike served as a volunteer campaign worker for many candidates including, Congressman Ron Sarasin, Jack Thompson, Marty Rader, Governor Thomas Meskill, President Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole and Governor Jodi Rell. A former chairman of the Danbury Republican Town Committee, campaign manager and trusted advisor to many Republican elected officials, he has developed a reputation as a level-headed, loyal public servant. The Danbury Republican Town Committee awarded Mike the J. Thayer Bowman Service Award in 2000.

A career in financial services including automotive fleet, mortgage banking and small business lending gave Mike a unique perspective of business and earned him a position of Vice President at First Union National Bank. His last position at First Union before moving to city government was responsible for equipment leasing in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey.

Mayor Mark Boughton recruited Mike to join his team as Chief of Staff following his election in 2001. The Mayor engaged Mike in long-term planning for his administration, project management and developing legislative priorities. A loyal team player, Mike continues to provide Mayor Boughton with daily support of initiatives, operations and constituent service and represents the Mayor on numerous community boards of directors.

Mike’s public service goes far beyond politics and local government as demonstrated by his numerous Church, fraternal and community-service activities. The Danbury Jaycees honored Mike with their 1998 Distinguished Service Award. Kiwanis International presented him the Distinguished President Award in 2001 following his term as leader of the Kiwanis Club of Danbury. Bishop William Lori presented Mike the Diocese of Bridgeport’s Saint Augustine Medal of Service Award in 2005 for his work at Saint Peter Church where he serves as a parish trustee and formerly served as chair of the Saint Peter School Advisory Board.

Mike served as chairman of the 1995 Special Olympics World Games Host Town Committee that welcomed Team Lebanon to Danbury for ten days during the competition. A member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Mike has volunteered for the annual Greater Danbury Irish Festival since it began eleven years ago. As a member of the Knights of Columbus, Mike was active in the renovations of the John Cardinal Neuman Center at Western Connecticut State University, chaired the scholarship program and assisted fundraising efforts for Special Olympics and Danbury’s Catholic schools. A fan of local history, Mike served thirteen years as a trustee of the Danbury Museum & Historical Society and is working on new efforts to preserve historic buildings in Danbury.