Mike Criss has spent more than two decades proving that good government is possible: transparent, efficient, and firmly on the side of taxpayers. As a longtime First Selectman, regional council leader, and hands-on community builder, he brings to the State Senate a record of results that spans far beyond any single town. 

 

Mike is a fifth-generation resident of Harwinton, Connecticut—a man whose family roots, work ethic, and civic duty are inseparable from the community he grew up in. He is a father of two teenage boys and a licensed master plumber who ran his family’s local plumbing business before pursuing a career in public service. He graduated with high honors from Oliver Wolcott Technical School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Marketing from Salve Regina University, graduating Cum Laude. That combination—hands-on trade experience and formal business training—has defined the practical, results-oriented approach he brings to every public role.

 

He was first elected First Selectman of Harwinton in 2011 and has since sought reelection seven times, each time earning the trust of his neighbors through demonstrated results rather than promises. Over those years, he has cut taxes, modernized town services, secured millions in grants, and launched programs that still serve residents today.