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Meet Mike Criss
Experienced Leadership & Regional Impact
Mike currently serves in several key leadership roles that extend well beyond Harwinton:​
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Vice Chair, Northwest Hills Council of Governments (NHCOG)
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Legislative Chair, NHCOG (7 years), representing all 21 Northwest Corner towns
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Chairman, Northwest Transit District – where he played a critical role in saving the district from closure
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Secretary, Connecticut Council of Small Towns (COST)
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Member, Government Relations Committee, Northwest Chamber of Commerce
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Active with the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, consistently fighting against Hartford's overreach and testifying on legislation to protect taxpayers from costly unfunded mandates
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In 2024, Mike worked alongside former State Senator Lisa Seminara to shut down a troubled DCF girls’ group home in Harwinton after numerous reports of sexual and physical assaults. He also exposed deeper issues with DCF and its subcontractors, working tirelessly to bring accountability and safety to the forefront.
A Record of Fiscal Responsibility & Transparency
Since his first successful election, Mike's work in Harwinton included:
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Stopping backroom politics, increasing transparency and accountability in local government
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Holding and cutting the town’s mill rate, delivering direct tax relief to Harwinton families
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Negotiating contracts that have saved the town hundreds of thousands of dollars
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Merging departments to eliminate waste and hired based on qualifications, not political favoritism
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Doubling social services and increased infrastructure repairs without raising taxes
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Securing millions in State and Federal grants, easing the burden on local taxpayers
Modernizing a Town While Preserving its Character
As Harwinton's first selectman, Mike has worked to bring Harwinton into the modern era without sacrificing its charm:
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Launched online town services, including permits, property searches, and public works requests – available 24/7
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Introduced CODE RED, a free town-wide emergency and non-emergency notification system
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Installed modern cybersecurity systems to protect taxpayer funds
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Created the first regional animal control program, saving Harwinton and neighboring towns significant resources
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Established the Harwinton Opioid Outreach Program, in partnership with McCall Foundation
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Adopted the Right to Farm Act, ensuring protections for farmers and homesteaders
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Founded Harwinton’s first food pantry and teen youth services
Additionally, Mike secured $2 million in infrastructure and building upgrades, with no additional tax burden to residents.
