Michael Edward McLachlan (April 18, 1946 – June 23, 2021) was an American attorney and politician who served as a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from district 59 from 2013 to 2015.

Mike McLachlan
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
from the 59th district
In office
January 9, 2013 – January 7, 2015
Preceded byJ. Paul Brown
Succeeded byJ. Paul Brown
Solicitor General of Colorado
In office
1999–2000
County Attorney of La Plata County, Colorado
In office
1995–1998
Personal details
Born
Michael Edward McLachlan

(1946-04-18)April 18, 1946
Dover, Delaware
DiedJune 23, 2021(2021-06-23) (aged 75)
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseBarbara McLachlan
EducationColorado State University Pueblo (BA)
University of Arizona (JD)
AwardsVietnam Service Medal
Military service
Branch/service United States Marine Corps
Years of service1965–1967
RankCorporal
Battles/warsVietnam War

Early life and education

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In 1965, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served in Vietnam before being honorably discharged in 1967. He attended Southern Colorado State College (now Colorado State University Pueblo) before enrolling in the University of Arizona's law school in 1973.[1]

Career

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Attorney General Ken Salazar appointed Rep. McLachlan to serve as Colorado's Solicitor General in 1999.[2] He successfully defended Colorado's women's health clinic shield law in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.[3]

He was a former president of the Durango Rotary Club and served on the Southern Ute Tribe-State of Colorado Environmental Control Commission. He has also served as the chairman of the Judicial Performance Commission for the Sixth Judicial District and as the chair of the Supreme Court Grievance Committee.

McLachlan represented House District 59 in southwestern Colorado for two years. He was elected in the 2012 election, and subsequently lost his bid for re-election during the 2014 election cycle.

He was a sponsor of a bill that created a tax break for farmers who donate extra produce to food banks.[4][5] He was also a sponsor of legislation allowing charter schools to hire armed security officers.[6][7]

In the November 4, 2014 mid-term elections, McLachlan was defeated for re-election by Republican J. Paul Brown. Brown won by a narrow margin of 168 votes. Due to the close nature of the election, McLachlan chose to not concede the race to Brown until November 20, 2014.[8]

He died on June 23, 2021, at age 75.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Michael McLachlan (Colorado)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  2. ^ Olivarius-Mcallister, Chase (February 9, 2012). "Durango lawyer announces his run for J. Paul Brown's seat in House". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  3. ^ "In Supreme Court spike of abortion protest buffer, a Colorado question". The Denver Post. 2014-06-26. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  4. ^ Hanel, Joe (February 10, 2014). "Ag committee has big appetite for McLachlan's food measure". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  5. ^ House Bill 14-1119
  6. ^ Engdahl, Todd (2014-03-17). "Student data privacy, charter security guard bills advance". Chalkbeat Colorado. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  7. ^ House Bill 14-1291
  8. ^ Olivarius-Mcallister, Chase (November 20, 2014). "McLachlan concedes state House race". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  9. ^ "Former Colorado state Rep. Mike McLachlan dies at 75". Denverpost.com. 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
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