Don MacKenzie has lived in Niantic for over 17 years and has worked in our Town for nearly 35 years as President and former owner of Boats Incorporated. He is an incumbent on the East Lyme Board of Selectmen and prior to becoming a Selectman in 2023, served on the Town’s Harbor Management Commission beginning in 2018. He was considering serving as that Commission’s Chair until deciding to run for the Board of Selectmen.

Don hails from the State of Maine but has been a Connecticut Yankee since 1973. After a year of college at the University of Maine, Don decided to enlist in the Navy and ended up in Connecticut in the Submarine Service and served a 4-year term. He was then hired at Electric Boat and sent to college by the company, earning an Engineering degree from the University of Bridgeport while also completing a 4-year machinist apprenticeship in the shipyard. Following 12 years at Electric Boat as a Machinist, Planner, and Contracts Analyst, the Cold War was winding down, so Don purchased his first business in Mystic, CT. The business did very well, and Don was recruited to work in sales for Anheuser Busch. That position gave him the fortunate opportunity to sponsor a fishing tournament at Boats Incorporated in Niantic in 1989. During that very special three-day weekend, Don realized he loved Niantic, the water, and sales. He saw potential for growth and within a year he and his partner became owners at 133 Main St.

Don jumped in with both feet as he not only was the President at Boats Incorporated, but also served in many positions on the Connecticut Marine Trades Association, including the Board of Directors for over 25 years, the Association’s President, Boat Show Chair, and its Legislative Chair for the Marine Industry. Don also served on the Board of Directors for the Marine Retailers of America. Boats Incorporated was awarded by Boating Industry Magazine TOP 100 Dealers in North America for 11 consecutive years and in 2015, Don was awarded the Jeanne Czel Award as the Marine Industry’s Person of the Year.

In addition to his work as a public official on the Board of Selectmen and the Harbor Management Commission, Don has also coached basketball and mentored students for the past 25 years at East Lyme, Ledyard, and Old Saybrook high schools. He has also worked with several local charities where he feels his contributions have an immediate impact.

Don is looking forward to serving another term on our Town’s Board of Selectmen, sharing his considerable business experience, his relationships in Hartford, as well as his passion for policy and systems. With your vote, he will be re-elected this November.