Mayor John Harkins' Biography

John A. Harkins was sworn in as Stratford’s second Mayor on December 14^th, 2009.  A lifelong resident of Stratford, Mayor Harkins has been serving his hometown in public office since his election to the Town Council (9^th District) in 1995. As Councilman, he was Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Committee. He also served as Chairman of the Roosevelt Forest Commission.

One year later, John was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives from the 120^th District, comprising central Stratford, beginning his first of seven consecutive terms in the General Assembly in 1997.  As a State Representative, John served as Deputy Republican Leader at Large, as well as the Ranking Member of the General Assembly’s Select Committee on Veterans Affairs.  During his legislative service, he was active in national organizations that work to enhance the ability of the General Assembly to better serve the people of our state. He was appointed in 1998 as the Connecticut Chair of the American Legislative Exchange Council, the nation’s largest bipartisan organization comprised of individual slate legislators. In 2004, he received the Legislator of the Year award from ALEC and in 2006 was selected to serve on ALEC’s national board of directors.

A lifelong resident of Stratford, Mayor Harkins has long been active in town affairs and civic groups: (Past President) Stratford Rotary Club, Bridgeport Regional Business Council, Stratford Republican Town Committee, Stratford Train Station Advisory Committee, SaveStratford.org, Raymark Advisory Committee, and St. Mark’s Catholic Church.

A graduate of the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma, Mayor Harkins holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance.

Born September 22, 1963, in Perth Amboy New Jersey, Representative Harkins and his wife, Jody, have two daughters.