About Mike

State Senator Michael McLachlan (R-24) is serving his fifth term in the Connecticut State Senate.

He represents the 24th District communities of Danbury, Bethel, New Fairfield and Sherman.

A Deputy Senate Republican Majority Leader, Senator McLachlan is Co-Chairman on the General Assembly’s Government Administration & Elections Committee. He also serves as Vice-Chairman on the Judiciary and the Labor & Public Relations committees and is a member of the Finance, Revenue & Bonding and the Executive & Legislative Nominations committees. He serves as Co-Chairman of the Finance Committee’s General Bonding Subcommittee.

Senator McLachlan has been an advocate for limited government, clean elections, and strict adherence to the state’s constitutional spending cap.

He has focused on preventing border tolls in the greater Danbury area, and he has been a strong voice in favor of eliminating unfunded state mandates on cities and towns.

Senator McLachlan was named a 2017 Capitol Caregiver by the Connecticut Chapter of AARP. The award was for his work promoting legislation requiring the probate court administrator to adopt standard practices for court-appointed conservators. The law also requires the conservators to follow these standards and to use the least restrictive means of intervention in the exercise of their duties,

In 2013, the Connecticut Alliance of YMCAs awarded Sen. McLachlan with its Legislator of the Year award for his promotion of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

In 2012, on behalf of a constituent, Sen. McLachlan spearheaded a proposal that requires screening for heart defects on newborns. The measure was touted as a simple, non-invasive, and cost-effective step, which would save lives. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed the proposal into law. As a result, he received the 2012 Bless Your Heart Award from Matthew’s Hearts of Hope.

Also in 2012, Senator McLachlan was named Co-Chair of the bipartisan Life Sciences Caucus, which promotes public policies supporting economic growth and scientific innovation in the state. The panel’s goal is to grow the state’s life science industries and attract young talent from across the country and the world to live and work in Connecticut.

Senator McLachlan was presented with the 2010 Children’s Champion award by the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance. The Connecticut Police Chiefs’ Association also honored him in 2010 for his efforts to enhance law enforcement in Connecticut.

Senator McLachlan has spent years working closely with the Catholic Church in Connecticut. In 2016, he was named a member of the Elected Official Advisory Committee of the Saint Pio Foundation. In a 2010 ceremony at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, Archbishop Timothy Dolan made Senator McLachlan a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

In 2009, Senator McLachlan led the opposition to proposed legislation that threatened religious freedoms. The proposal would have reorganized the Catholic Church in Connecticut by removing bishops and pastors from management decisions. In 2005, Bishop William Lori presented Senator McLachlan with the Diocese of Bridgeport’s Saint Augustine Medal of Service Award for his work at Saint Peter Church where he serves as a parish trustee. He formerly served as chair of the Saint Peter School Advisory Board.

Prior to serving in the Senate, Senator McLachlan served as Chief of Staff for Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton. Senator McLachlan began working for Mayor Boughton following the mayor’s election in 2001. As chief of staff, Senator McLachlan spearheaded efforts to provide housing for veterans. Senator McLachlan still serves on the Danbury Housing Partnership and chaired the Veteran’s Housing Committee that launched the Housing for Heroes program in 2008. The program provides shelter, transitional housing and a path to a permanent home.

Before transitioning to city government, Senator McLachlan had a successful career in financial services, including automotive fleet, mortgage banking, and small business lending. He was named Vice President at First Union National Bank where he was responsible for equipment leasing in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey.

A Danbury native, Senator McLachlan has a long history of community service and involvement. In 1998, the Danbury Jaycees honored him with the Distinguished Service Award. Kiwanis International presented him the Distinguished President Award in 2001 following his term as leader of the Kiwanis Club of Danbury.

Senator McLachlan 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, Senator McLachlan has volunteered for the annual Greater Danbury Irish Festival for many years. As a member of the Knights of Columbus, Senator McLachlan 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. He serves as a trustee of the Danbury Museum & Historical Society and is working on efforts to preserve historic buildings in Danbury.

Senator McLachlan also has a lengthy record of work for the Republican Party, working in local politics since the age of ten. He served as a volunteer on many campaigns including those of 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 advisor to many Republican officials, Senator McLachlan has cultivated a reputation as a devoted public servant. The Danbury Republican Town Committee awarded Senator McLachlan the J. Thayer Bowman Service Award in 2000.

Senator McLachlan is a commercial Realtor with his own company – Hat City Real Estate, LLC. He and his wife Alesia live in Danbury.