Mike McLachlan

{{Redirect|Michael McLachlan|the state legislator from Connecticut|Michael A. McLachlan}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Mike McLachlan

|image =

|state_house = Colorado

|state = Colorado

|district = 59th

|term_start = January 9, 2013

|term_end = January 7, 2015

|predecessor = J. Paul Brown

|successor = J. Paul Brown

|office1 = Solicitor General of Colorado

|term_start1 = 1999

|term_end1 = 2000

|birth_name = Michael Edward McLachlan

|birth_date = {{Birth date|1946|4|18}}

|birth_place = Dover, Delaware, U.S.

|death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|6|23|1946|4|18}}

|death_place = Durango, Colorado, U.S.

|party = Democratic

|spouse = {{ubl

| {{marriage|Dixie Self|1968|1971|end=divorced}}

| {{marriage|Deborah Elaine Cowan|1975|1981|end=divorced}}

| {{marriage|Barbara McLachlan|1984|2021|end=died}}

}}

|children = 2

|education = Colorado State University Pueblo (BA)
University of Arizona (JD)

|branch = {{Flag|United States Marine Corps}}

|rank = Corporal

|serviceyears = 1965–1967

|battles = Vietnam War

|awards = Vietnam Service Medal

|signature =

}}

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

McLachlan, the son of a United States Air Force colonel, lived in multiple states and countries during his early life. He graduated from high school in Nebraska and enrolled in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, but withdrew to join the United States Marine Corps. He graduated from Southern Colorado State College and the University of Arizona, where he was an associate editor of the Arizona Law Review.

McLachlan worked as a clerk for a Colorado Supreme Court justice and as an assistant district attorney. He worked at a law firm until 1995, and then opened his own firm. He was appointed as solicitor general for Colorado in 1998, and defended Colorado's shield law before the Supreme Court of the United States in Hill v. Colorado. He served one term in the state house.

Early life and education

Michael Edward McLachlan was born at the Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, on April 18, 1946, to Audrey and Joseph J. McLachlan. His father was a colonel in the United States Air Force.{{sfn|Goodland|2021}}{{sfn|Father|1965}}{{sfn|Obituary|2021}} The McLachlan family moved to Munich, West Germany, when Mike was six months old. They lived in San Antonio, Dayton, and Pittsburgh during he first five years of his life. They also lived in Arlington and Tampa. In 1959, they moved to Zaragoza, Spain, where McLachlan attended 8th to 11th grade. They moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1963, and he graduated from Pius X High School.{{sfn|Obituary|2021}}

McLachlan attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 1965, but joined the United States Marine Corps that year and arrived in Vietnam on April 14, 1966.{{sfn|McLachlan|2014}}{{sfn|House Memorial|2023}} He survived a plane crash and was sent back to the United States on April 10, 1967.{{sfn|Obituary|2021}} He was honorably discharged later that year.{{sfn|McLachlan|2014}}{{sfn|House Memorial|2023}} He was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal and Vietnam Service Medal.{{sfn|Obituary|2021}}

McLachlan moved to Colorado with a friend from Zaragoza to attend Southern Colorado State College. He graduated cum laude with a degree in history in 1970. He graduated with a Juris Doctor from the University of Arizona in 1973.{{sfn|Obituary|2021}} He was an associate editor of the Arizona Law Review from 1972 to 1973.{{sfn|Law Review|1972}}{{sfn|McLachlan|2016}}

Career

=Law=

McLachlan was admitted to the bar in Colorado in 1973, and worked as a law clerk for Justice Edward C. Day of the Colorado Supreme Court from 1973 to 1974.{{sfn|Deborah Cowan|1974}}{{sfn|McLachlan|2016}} He worked as an assistant district attorney in the 6th judicial district under Jim Childress from 1974 to May 1976. He joined the Hamilton & Shand law firm and worked there for nineteen years before leaving in 1995, when the firm was known as Hamilton Shand & McLachlan. McLachlan operated his own law firm in Durango, Colorado, for twenty years.{{sfn|Obituary|2021}}{{sfn|McLachlan|2016}}

In 1987, McLachlan was one of 149 delegates who participated in a mock constitutional convention organized by the University of Colorado Denver and The Denver Post to examine and discuss changes to the Constitution of Colorado.{{sfn|Gallegos|1987}}

On November 13, 1998, Attorney General Ken Salazar appointed McLachlan to serve as Colorado's Solicitor General.{{sfn|Salazar|1998}} In 1993, a shield law for abortion clinics was established and stated that protesters could not come within eight feet of patients within 100 feet of a healthcare facility. McLachlan defended the constitutionality of the law in Hill v. Colorado.{{sfn|Goodland|2021}}

=Colorado House of Representatives=

Dickey Lee Hullinghorst convinced McLachlan to run for the Democratic nomination in the Colorado House of Representatives' 59th district.{{sfn|Goodland|2021}} He launched his campaign on February 9, 2012.{{sfn|Telluride|2012}} He won the Democratic nomination without opposition after Patrick Swonger was disqualified.{{sfn|Olivarius-Mcallister|2013}}{{sfn|Election|2012|p=78}} He defeated incumbent Republican J. Paul Brown.{{sfn|Election|2012|p=122}} McLachlan raised over $133,000 compared to Brown's $113,000{{sfn|Ashby|2012}} and around $1.2 million was spent during the campaign.{{sfn|Money tussle|2014}} Brown stated that he lost due to the success of Amendment 64 and Barack Obama's victory in the state in the concurrent presidential election.{{sfn|Marcus|2014}}

There was an unsuccessful attempt to issue a recall election against McLachlan in 2013, but only around 8,500 signatures, less than the 10,587 needed, were gathered.{{sfn|Armijo|2018}} During his tenure in the state house he served on the Judiciary and Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources committees.{{sfn|Hanel|2014}}{{sfn|Legislative Biography}}

Brown defeated McLachlan by 170 votes in the 2014 election.{{sfn|Election|2014|p=122}} McLachlan conceded the election almost two weeks later on November 20.{{sfn|Concede|2014}} Around $1,180,000 was spent during the campaign, around $570,000 by Republicans and over $600,000 by the Democrats.{{sfn|Money Drives|2014}} McLachlan's wife Barbara McLachlan defeated Brown in 2016.{{sfn|Election|2016|p=177}}

Personal life

McLachlan married Dixie Self in 1968, and divorced her in 1971. He married Deborah Elaine Cowan on January 25, 1975, and divorced in 1981.{{sfn|Deborah Cowan|1974}}{{sfn|Marriage|1975}}{{sfn|Obituary|2021}} He married Barbara Hall, with whom he had two children, in November 1984.{{sfn|Goodland|2021}} McLachlan died on June 23, 2021,{{sfn|Goodland|2021}} in Durango.{{sfn|Legislative Biography}}

Political positions

McLachlan voted in favor of legislation to limit magazines to 15 rounds, prohibit conceal-carry on campuses, and universal background checks.{{sfn|Ashby|2013}} The American Civil Liberties Union gave him a rating of 71% in 2013,{{sfn|ACLU|2013|p=4}} and 100% in 2014.{{sfn|ACLU|2014|p=6}}

Electoral history

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title= 2012 Colorado House of Representatives 59th district election{{sfn|Election|2012|pp=78; 122}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Mike McLachlan

|votes = 3,106

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 3,106

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Mike McLachlan

|votes = 21,632

|percentage = 51.08%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = J. Paul Brown (incumbent)

|votes = 20,715

|percentage = 48.92%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 42,347

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title= 2014 Colorado House of Representatives 59th district election{{sfn|Election|2014|pp=82; 122}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Mike McLachlan (incumbent)

|votes = 3,313

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 3,313

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = J. Paul Brown

|votes = 17,280

|percentage = 50.25%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Mike McLachlan (incumbent)

|votes = 17,110

|percentage = 49.75%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 34,390

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

References

Works cited

=Election data=

{{Cite web |title=2012 Abstract of Votes Cast |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2012AbstractBook.pdf |ref={{harvid|Election|2012}}}}
{{Cite web |title=2014 Abstract of Votes Cast |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2014AbstractBook.pdf |ref={{harvid|Election|2014}}}}
{{Cite web |title=2016 Abstract of Votes Cast |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2016/2016BiennialAbstract.pdf |ref={{harvid|Election|2016}}}}

=News=

{{Cite news |date=November 14, 1998 |title=AG-elect picks new chief deputy |page=3A |work=The Daily Sentinel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-sentinel/164353299/ |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{harvid|Salazar|1998}}}}
{{Cite news |date=December 17, 1965 |title=Catholic Men's Luncheon |page=7 |work=The Jet Scoop |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jet-scoop/164353046/ |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{harvid|Father|1965}}}}
{{Cite news |date=February 20, 1975 |title=Deborah Cowan Is Wed; Bridal Held in Colorado |page=S1 |work=The Montclair Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montclair-times/164353789/ |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{harvid|Marriage|1975}}}}
{{Cite news |date=October 3, 1974 |title=Deborah Cowan, Michael McLachlan Betrothal Announced |page=5 |work=The Coast Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-coast-star/164353697/ |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{harvid|Deborah Cowan|1974}}}}
{{Cite news |date=February 16, 2012 |title=Durango Lawyer Joins Democratic Field of Candidates for HD-59 |work=Telluride Daily Planet |url=https://www.telluridenews.com/the_watch/news/article_5195b51a-180b-52ef-b84d-93c671087406.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130225825/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/former-state-rep-mike-mclachlan-dies-age-75/article_4936075e-d503-11eb-8a0a-9320dd5f14a3.html |archive-date=January 30, 2025 |ref={{harvid|Telluride|2012}}}}
{{Cite news |date=April 7, 1972 |title=Law Review names board |page=31 |work=The Arizona Republic |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic/164426623/ |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{harvid|Law Review|1972}}}}
{{Cite web |date=June 24, 2021 |title=Michael McLachlan Obituary |work=The Durango Herald |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/durangoherald/name/michael-mclachlan-obituary?id=10688365 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250131234146/https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/durangoherald/name/michael-mclachlan-obituary?id=10688365 |archive-date=January 31, 2025 |ref={{harvid|Obituary|2021}}}}
{{Cite news |last=Armijo |first=Patrick |date=March 29, 2018 |title=Colorado recall laws liberal but challenging |work=The Durango Herald |url=https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/colorado-recall-laws-liberal-but-challenging-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250201044255/https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/colorado-recall-laws-liberal-but-challenging-2/ |archive-date=February 1, 2025}}
{{Cite news |last=Ashby |first=Charles |date=November 7, 2012 |title=Dems take control of Colorado House |page=5A |work=The Daily Sentinel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-sentinel/164353460/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
{{Cite news |last=Ashby |first=Charles |date=February 19, 2013 |title=Gun measures clear state House |page=1A |work=The Daily Sentinel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-sentinel/164353502/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
{{Cite news |last=Gallegos |first=Bryan |date=September 1, 1987 |title=State constitution to be reviewed |page=2B |work=The Daily Sentinel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-sentinel/164353164/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
{{Cite news |last=Goodland |first=Marianne |date=June 24, 2021 |title=Former state Rep. Mike McLachlan dies, age 75 |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/former-state-rep-mike-mclachlan-dies-age-75/article_4936075e-d503-11eb-8a0a-9320dd5f14a3.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130225825/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/former-state-rep-mike-mclachlan-dies-age-75/article_4936075e-d503-11eb-8a0a-9320dd5f14a3.html |archive-date=January 30, 2025}}
{{Cite news |last=Hanel |first=Joe |date=March 11, 2014 |title=Eminent-domain fight creates an odd alliance |work=The Durango Herald |url=https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/eminent-domain-fight-creates-an-odd-alliance/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250202032031/https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/eminent-domain-fight-creates-an-odd-alliance/ |archive-date=February 2, 2025}}
{{Cite news |last=Marcus |first=Peter |date=July 18, 2014 |title=McLachlan vs. Brown — A rematch in HD 59 |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/mclachlan-vs-brown-a-rematch-in-hd-59/article_6d7065b4-f261-536e-a894-0de6c5a1d4a7.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250201043558/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/mclachlan-vs-brown-a-rematch-in-hd-59/article_6d7065b4-f261-536e-a894-0de6c5a1d4a7.html |archive-date=February 1, 2025}}
{{Cite news |last=Olivarius-Mcallister |first=Chase |date=October 4, 2013 |title=$230,000 filing fine shocks Silverton candidate |work=The Durango Herald |url=https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/230000-filing-fine-shocks-silverton-candidate/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250202032238/https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/230000-filing-fine-shocks-silverton-candidate/ |archive-date=February 2, 2025}}
{{Cite news |last=Olivarius-Mcallister |first=Chase |date=November 20, 2014 |title=McLachlan concedes state House race |work=The Durango Herald |url=https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/mclachlan-concedes-state-house-race/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250201045641/https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/mclachlan-concedes-state-house-race/ |archive-date=February 1, 2025 |ref={{harvid|Concede|2014}}}}
{{Cite news |last=Olivarius-Mcallister |first=Chase |date=November 1, 2014 |title=Money drives 59th race to Election Day |work=The Durango Herald |url=https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/money-drives-59th-race-to-election-day/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250201165322/https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/money-drives-59th-race-to-election-day/ |archive-date=February 1, 2025 |ref={{harvid|Money Drives|2014}}}}
{{Cite news |last=Olivarius-Mcallister |first=Chase |date=January 18, 2014 |title=Money tussle begins in District 59 |work=The Durango Herald |url=https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/money-tussle-begins-in-district-59/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250202032211/https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/money-tussle-begins-in-district-59/ |archive-date=February 2, 2025 |ref={{harvid|Money tussle|2014}}}}

=Websites=

{{Cite web |date=August 1, 2013 |title=ACLU 2013 Legislative Scorecard |work=American Civil Liberties Union |url=https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/clone-2014-legislative-scorecard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118182645/https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/clone-2014-legislative-scorecard |archive-date=January 18, 2022 |ref={{harvid|ACLU|2013}}}}
{{Cite web |date=August 1, 2014 |title=ACLU 2014 Legislative Scorecard |work=American Civil Liberties Union |url=https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/clone-2015-legislative-scorecard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117052600/https://www.aclu-co.org/en/publications/clone-2015-legislative-scorecard |archive-date=January 17, 2022 |ref={{harvid|ACLU|2014}}}}
{{Cite web |title=House Memorial 23-1002 |work=Colorado House of Representatives |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/2023a_hm1002_signed.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130225955/https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/2023a_hm1002_signed.pdf |archive-date=January 30, 2025 |ref={{harvid|House Memorial|2023}}}}
{{Cite web |title=Michael E McLachlan |url=http://dgoattys.com/mclachlan.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160802141105/http://dgoattys.com/mclachlan.htm |archive-date=August 2, 2016 |ref={{harvid|McLachlan|2016}}}}
{{Cite web |title=Mike McLachlan |work=Colorado General Assembly |url=https://www.leg.state.co.us/lcs/leghist.nsf/DocView.xsp?documentId=51C24ABC3CD7E9B087257AD0007DDA16&action=openDocument |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250202184106/https://www.leg.state.co.us/lcs/leghist.nsf/DocView.xsp?documentId=51C24ABC3CD7E9B087257AD0007DDA16&action=openDocument |archive-date=February 2, 2025 |ref={{harvid|Legislative Biography}}}}
{{Cite web |last=McLachaln |first=Mike |title=Military Service |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/2023a_hm1002_signed.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719215451/http://www.mclachlanforcolorado.com/military_service_vietnam_vet_mike_mclachlan |archive-date=July 19, 2014 |ref={{harvid|McLachlan|2014}}}}

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20131015165412/http://www.mclachlanforcolorado.com/ Mike McLachlan's campaign website]

Category:1946 births

Category:2021 deaths

Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Vietnam War

Category:People from Dover, Delaware

Category:Democratic Party members of the Colorado House of Representatives

Category:United States Marines

Category:People from Durango, Colorado

Category:University of Nebraska alumni

Category:Military personnel from Colorado

Category:Colorado State University Pueblo alumni

Category:James E. Rogers College of Law alumni

Category:Colorado lawyers

Category:21st-century members of the Colorado General Assembly