Mark D Nielsen

Previously Chief Legal Counsel in the Governor's Office since Sept. 2004. Practiced law in Connecticut. Republican nominee for Congress in Connecticut's 5th CD in 2000, losing to Rep. James Maloney (53.6% to 44.3%) and in 1998, losing to Maloney (49.9% to 48.4%). Served two terms in the Connecticut State Senate and one term in the State House, starting in 1993 through 1999. A.B. from Harvard College, 1986 and J.D. from Harvard Law School, 1989. Previously, Nielsen was a vice president and assistant general counsel of defense contractor Raytheon Co. from 2007 to 2009. Prior to that, he was chief legal counsel and chief of staff to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. A Danbury native now living in Ridgefield, Nielsen began his career in 1990 with the Hartford law firm of Murtha, Cullina, Richter and Pinney, and served as state representative and state senator from 1993 to 1999. As a Republican, he mounted unsuccessful congressional bids for the 5th district seat in 1998 and 2000.