State Senator Michael McLachlan (R-24) is serving his first term in the Connecticut State Senate. He represents the 24th District communities of Danbury, Bethel, New Fairfield and Sherman.
Senator McLachlan serves as Minority Whip of the State Senate Republican Caucus and is ranking member on the General Assembly’s Government Administration & Elections Committee. He also sits on four other committees: Finance, Judiciary, Legislative Management and Transportation.
Prior to being elected to the Senate, Senator McLachlan served as Chief of Staff for Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton. Senator McLachlan began working for Mayor Boughton following his election in 2001. As chief of staff, Senator McLachlan spearheaded efforts to provide housing for veterans. Senator McLachlan also serves on the Danbury Housing Partnership and chairs the veteran’s housing committee that launched the “Housing for Heroes” program in 2008 that 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 has also spent years working closely with the Catholic Church in Connecticut. In 2005, Bishop William Lori presented him 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.
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 since it began eleven years ago. 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 also served thirteen years as a trustee of the Danbury Museum & Historical Society and is working on new efforts to preserve historic buildings in Danbury.
Senator McLachlan also has an impressive record of work for the Republican party, working in local politics since the age of 10. 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 Mike the J. Thayer Bowman Service Award in 2000.
Senator McLachlan and his wife Alesia live in Danbury.
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