Christopher Coutu
Encyclopedia
Christopher D. Coutu is an American
politician, currently serving as a State Representative in Connecticut
. Since 2006, he serves as the only elected Republican state or federal legislative official in southeastern Connecticut, representing the state's 47th House
district.
Coutu declared his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives
in May 2011. He will challenge third-term Congressman Joe Courtney
, a Democrat, to represent Connecticut's 2nd congressional district
.
. To fund college tuition, he worked at the Mohegan Sun casino and also in social services. In his online biography, he claims he was the first in his family to earn a college degree.
as an airman and completed the eight-month Avionics Guidance and Control Course at Keesler Air Force Base
in 1995. He then served within the 16th Special Operations Wing out of Eglin Air Force Base
, Florida
, from 1995 to 1998. After his active duty service, Coutu served in the Air National Guard
from 1998 to 2008. He was deployed to Kuwait
in support of Operation Southern Watch
at the time of the September 11 attacks in 2001. In 2004, he achieved the rank of Technical Sergeant as a Journeyman Avionics Technician and a Craftsman Education and Training Manager for the 103rd Fighter Wing in East Granby, Connecticut
.
In 2009, after serving in an enlisted uniform for 14 years, Coutu graduated from Officer Candidate School
. Coutu now serves as a Finance Officer
in the Army National Guard. Coutu remains active within the veteran community as a member of the Disabled American Veterans
, VFW
, American Legion
, ESGR
and the Association of the National Guard. In 2009, Coutu led an effort to reorganize the Norwich Area Veterans Council, a coalition of 20 veteran organizations in the region.
From 2002 to 2004, Coutu worked with his family's commercial fishing
and trucking operation, Fitz-Sea.
In 2004, Coutu transitioned to work as a federal GS employee within the Department of Defense
's Department of Civilian Personnel Management Services, where he visited 300 companies from Puerto Rico to Maine and worked with management and labor union members.
Since 2007, Coutu as worked in the financial services industry as a licensed financial adviser, tax professional and disbursing officer in the NY Army National Guard. He has instructed courses in the Air Force and as an Adjunct Professor
of Finance
at Three Rivers Community College.
and Korean War
veterans to visit their war memorials in Washington, D.C.
Additionally, Coutu formed Operation Freedom Legacy in 2008, which brings veterans to schools and other organizations to promote patriotism, democracy, and volunteerism. In 2010, AmericanWarrior established a national Welcome Home Veteran parade, "The Homecoming They Deserve" in Norwich.
.
Coutu is active with multiple community organizations, including the Knights of Columbus
, Sacred Heart Church, AHEPA, Taftville Volunteer Fire Department, Bully Busters, Taftville Lions, and the Greater Norwich Veterans and Winter Festival Parades. For his participation, the USAF has awarded him Outstanding Volunteer and Humanitarian medals. In 2008, Coutu received the University of Hartford's Humanitarian Award, Vietnam Veterans Award, and the Connecticut American Legion's Americanism Award.
, SECTer, the Greater Norwich Chamber of Commerce, and the American Council of Young Political Leaders. In 2009, he joined a delegation of five nationally elected officials to explore the culture, politics, and government of Romania
and Hungary
.
in 2008. Coutu's 2008 state house victory was a rare victory for New England
Republicans, capturing a previously Democratic seat from a 14-year incumbent, Jack Malone. He won the election 54% (5,449) to 46% (4,605). In 2010, despite being outspent by 33%, he earned a second term with a 58% to 42% victory over SEIU organizer and SEBAC 2010 President Cathy Osten.
As representative of Connecticut's 47th district, Coutu serves the City of Norwich
and rural eastern towns of Canterbury
, Scotland
and Sprague
, which are located in New London and Windham
counties.
Coutu is the ranking member for the Insurance and Real Estate Committee in the Connecticut House of Representatives
. He also serves on the Veterans and Commerce committees. He previously served on the Judiciary, Human Services and Finance, Revenue and Bonding committees.
Since 2009, Coutu participated in or hosted three dozen forums on energy, sexting
, capital punishment
, post-traumatic stress disorder
, and the state budget.
, running against Democratic Congressman Joe Courtney
.
Republican candidates for office, citing complaints with the state government's fiscal policy. The coalition's mission statement emphasizes cutting state spending to balance the budget, including consolidating, privatizing, or outsourcing government services and targeting so-called "budget gimmicks". The CSCC's efforts contributed to the highest number of newly elected officials within one party since the removal of the party lever in 1986.
, which mandated independent committees to run religious organizations' finances. Coutu joined thousands in a protest rally and challenged this legislation as a member of the Judiciary Committee. Coutu called it "an embarrassment that it's even made it this far."
Coutu signed on to a 2010 resolution denouncing federal mandates, claiming they "squeezed budgets of cities and towns" and claiming they contravened the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
.
In May 2011, Coutu joined a group of Republican state legislators in challenging Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy's budget in court. The plaintiff
s claimed the budget was unconstitutional because it was signed into law with a $2 billion deficit. The lawsuit was thrown out at the Connecticut Superior Court
on June 24.
members of the Connecticut House of Representatives. He has been a notable critic of Connecticut's fiscal policy, which he claims inhibits job creation. Coutu assisted and proposed a Connecticut no-tax budget.
In 2011, he proposed removing the Small Business Entity Tax for businesses with 10 or fewer employees. and to cap bonding at 10% of total budget.
On October 26th 2011, Coutu cast the lone no vote against a $1.1 billion piece of legislation. He stated, "How can we raise taxes on all families by $800 annually to provide hundreds of millions of dollars to a few private companies."
. He cosponsored mail in permit registration and deer hunting with a revolver. In 2010, he received an A rating from the National Rifle Association
and was endorsed by the CT Citizen Defense League.
.
Coutu signed on to a 2010 resolution denouncing mandates, claiming they "squeezed budgets of cities and towns".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician, currently serving as a State Representative in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. Since 2006, he serves as the only elected Republican state or federal legislative official in southeastern Connecticut, representing the state's 47th House
Connecticut House of Representatives
The Connecticut House of Representatives is the lower house in the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The house is composed of 151 members representing an equal number of districts, with each constituency containing nearly 22,600 residents...
district.
Coutu declared his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in May 2011. He will challenge third-term Congressman Joe Courtney
Joe Courtney (politician)
Joseph Courtney is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:Courtney grew up in suburban Hartford and became a 1975 graduate of Tufts University...
, a Democrat, to represent Connecticut's 2nd congressional district
Connecticut's 2nd congressional district
Connecticut's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in the eastern part of the state, the district includes the towns of New London, Norwich, Storrs, Groton, and Southwood Acres....
.
Personal background
Christopher Coutu was born and grew up in Norwich, Connecticut.Education
Coutu graduated from Norwich Tech High School with a certification in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning in 1994. From 1998 to 2003, Coutu earned multiple university degrees, including an MBA from Barney School of Business at the University of HartfordUniversity of Hartford
The University of Hartford is a private, independent, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in West Hartford, Connecticut. The degree programs at the University of Hartford hold the highest levels of accreditation available in the US, including the Engineering Accreditation Commission of...
. To fund college tuition, he worked at the Mohegan Sun casino and also in social services. In his online biography, he claims he was the first in his family to earn a college degree.
Military service
Coutu enlisted in the United States Air ForceUnited States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
as an airman and completed the eight-month Avionics Guidance and Control Course at Keesler Air Force Base
Keesler Air Force Base
Keesler Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Biloxi, a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, United States. The base is named in honor of aviator 2d Lt Samuel Reeves Keesler, Jr., a Mississippi native killed in France in First World War.-Units:The base is home of...
in 1995. He then served within the 16th Special Operations Wing out of Eglin Air Force Base
Eglin Air Force Base
Eglin Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately 3 miles southwest of Valparaiso, Florida in Okaloosa County....
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, from 1995 to 1998. After his active duty service, Coutu served in the Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
from 1998 to 2008. He was deployed to Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
in support of Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace south of the 32nd Parallel in Iraq, following the 1991 Gulf War until the 2003 invasion of Iraq.-Summary:Operation Southern Watch began on 27 August 1992...
at the time of the September 11 attacks in 2001. In 2004, he achieved the rank of Technical Sergeant as a Journeyman Avionics Technician and a Craftsman Education and Training Manager for the 103rd Fighter Wing in East Granby, Connecticut
East Granby, Connecticut
East Granby is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was estimated at 5,058 in 2005. The town recently celebrated its 150th anniversary with a three-day festival on June 7, 8, and 9, 2008.-Geography:...
.
In 2009, after serving in an enlisted uniform for 14 years, Coutu graduated from Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School or Officer Cadet School are institutions which train civilians and enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a commission as officers in the armed forces of a country....
. Coutu now serves as a Finance Officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in the Army National Guard. Coutu remains active within the veteran community as a member of the Disabled American Veterans
Disabled American Veterans
The Disabled American Veterans, or DAV, is an organization for disabled veterans that helps them and their families through various means. It currently has over 1.2 million members...
, VFW
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a congressionally chartered war veterans organization in the United States. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, VFW currently has 1.5 million members belonging to 7,644 posts, and is the largest American organization of combat...
, American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
, ESGR
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is the lead Defense Department agency promoting cooperation and understanding between civilian employers and their National Guard and Reserve employees....
and the Association of the National Guard. In 2009, Coutu led an effort to reorganize the Norwich Area Veterans Council, a coalition of 20 veteran organizations in the region.
Professional career
In 1998, Coutu returned from active duty and worked at the Mohegan Sun Casino and within social services.From 2002 to 2004, Coutu worked with his family's commercial fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and trucking operation, Fitz-Sea.
In 2004, Coutu transitioned to work as a federal GS employee within the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
's Department of Civilian Personnel Management Services, where he visited 300 companies from Puerto Rico to Maine and worked with management and labor union members.
Since 2007, Coutu as worked in the financial services industry as a licensed financial adviser, tax professional and disbursing officer in the NY Army National Guard. He has instructed courses in the Air Force and as an Adjunct Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Finance
Finance
"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...
at Three Rivers Community College.
AmericanWarrior
In 2006, Coutu established AmericanWarrior.us. The patriotic non-profit supports veterans and patriotic operations. The organization is supported through private donations and has coordinated and financed for 630 World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
veterans to visit their war memorials in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Additionally, Coutu formed Operation Freedom Legacy in 2008, which brings veterans to schools and other organizations to promote patriotism, democracy, and volunteerism. In 2010, AmericanWarrior established a national Welcome Home Veteran parade, "The Homecoming They Deserve" in Norwich.
Community service
In 2006, Coutu established Briansquest.com. The organization raised money for a Norwich resident named Brian L'Homme to get a guide dogGuide dog
Guide dogs are assistance dogs trained to lead blind and visually impaired people around obstacles.Although the dogs can be trained to navigate various obstacles, they are partially color blind and are not capable of interpreting street signs...
.
Coutu is active with multiple community organizations, including the Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
, Sacred Heart Church, AHEPA, Taftville Volunteer Fire Department, Bully Busters, Taftville Lions, and the Greater Norwich Veterans and Winter Festival Parades. For his participation, the USAF has awarded him Outstanding Volunteer and Humanitarian medals. In 2008, Coutu received the University of Hartford's Humanitarian Award, Vietnam Veterans Award, and the Connecticut American Legion's Americanism Award.
Family
Coutu married Nergina Proskute Coutu in 2004; in 2010, the couple had a daughter, Alexandria Grace.Political career
Coutu is active with the American Legislative Exchange Council, Grassroots EastGrassroots East
Grassroots East is a conservative organization that was formed in the United States in 1978. Organizers were focused on electing a Republican in Connecticut's 2nd Congressional District....
, SECTer, the Greater Norwich Chamber of Commerce, and the American Council of Young Political Leaders. In 2009, he joined a delegation of five nationally elected officials to explore the culture, politics, and government of Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
and Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
.
Norwich Alderman
Coutu earned a seat as an Alderman on the Norwich City Council in 2007. During his tenure on the city council, he served on several committees, including the Board of Zoning Appeals, Mohegan Park Advisory, Public Works and Rehabilitation Review. He was the chairman for the Administrative Planning for Economic Development Committee. On February 7, 2008 Coutu stated, "It’s the taxpayers’ money,” and led a bi-partisan effort to cap the annual tax increase.Connecticut House of Representatives
He was first elected to the Connecticut House of RepresentativesConnecticut House of Representatives
The Connecticut House of Representatives is the lower house in the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The house is composed of 151 members representing an equal number of districts, with each constituency containing nearly 22,600 residents...
in 2008. Coutu's 2008 state house victory was a rare victory for New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
Republicans, capturing a previously Democratic seat from a 14-year incumbent, Jack Malone. He won the election 54% (5,449) to 46% (4,605). In 2010, despite being outspent by 33%, he earned a second term with a 58% to 42% victory over SEIU organizer and SEBAC 2010 President Cathy Osten.
As representative of Connecticut's 47th district, Coutu serves the City of Norwich
Norwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
and rural eastern towns of Canterbury
Canterbury, Connecticut
Canterbury is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 4,692 at the 2000 census.-History:The area was first settled in the 1680s as Peagscomsuck, consisting mainly of land north of Norwich, south of New Roxbury, Massachusetts and west of the Quinebaug River and the...
, Scotland
Scotland, Connecticut
Scotland is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 1,556. Scotland is a predominantly rural town, with agriculture as the principal industry.-Geography:...
and Sprague
Sprague, Connecticut
Sprague is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The town was named after William Sprague, who laid out the industrial section. The population was 2,971 at the 2000 census...
, which are located in New London and Windham
Windham County, Connecticut
Windham County is a county located in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of 2010, the population was 118,428.The entire county is within the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor, as designated by the National Park Service.-History:Windham...
counties.
Coutu is the ranking member for the Insurance and Real Estate Committee in the Connecticut House of Representatives
Connecticut House of Representatives
The Connecticut House of Representatives is the lower house in the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The house is composed of 151 members representing an equal number of districts, with each constituency containing nearly 22,600 residents...
. He also serves on the Veterans and Commerce committees. He previously served on the Judiciary, Human Services and Finance, Revenue and Bonding committees.
Since 2009, Coutu participated in or hosted three dozen forums on energy, sexting
Sexting
Sexting is the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photographs, primarily between mobile phones. The term was first popularized in early 21st century, and is a portmanteau of sex and texting, where the latter is meant in the wide sense of sending a text possibly with...
, capital punishment
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
, post-traumatic stress disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Posttraumaticstress disorder is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. This event may involve the threat of death to oneself or to someone else, or to one's own or someone else's physical, sexual, or psychological integrity,...
, and the state budget.
2012 congressional campaign
Coutu announced that he was exploring a run for Congress in April 2011. Six weeks later, he officially announced he would be a candidate for Connecticut's 2nd congressional districtConnecticut's 2nd congressional district
Connecticut's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in the eastern part of the state, the district includes the towns of New London, Norwich, Storrs, Groton, and Southwood Acres....
, running against Democratic Congressman Joe Courtney
Joe Courtney (politician)
Joseph Courtney is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:Courtney grew up in suburban Hartford and became a 1975 graduate of Tufts University...
.
Connecticut Common Sense Coalition
In 2009, Coutu established a group called the Common Sense for Connecticut Coalition to promote fiscally conservativeFiscal conservatism
Fiscal conservatism is a political term used to describe a fiscal policy that advocates avoiding deficit spending. Fiscal conservatives often consider reduction of overall government spending and national debt as well as ensuring balanced budget of paramount importance...
Republican candidates for office, citing complaints with the state government's fiscal policy. The coalition's mission statement emphasizes cutting state spending to balance the budget, including consolidating, privatizing, or outsourcing government services and targeting so-called "budget gimmicks". The CSCC's efforts contributed to the highest number of newly elected officials within one party since the removal of the party lever in 1986.
Connecticut Constitution
In 2009, the veto-proof Democratic majority proposed Connecticut Raised Bill 1098Connecticut Raised Bill 1098
Raised Bill 1098 is a bill in the Connecticut State Legislature that would apply solely to Roman Catholic parishes. The bill, introduced in March 2009, was sponsored by Democratic state senators Mike Lawlor and Andrew J...
, which mandated independent committees to run religious organizations' finances. Coutu joined thousands in a protest rally and challenged this legislation as a member of the Judiciary Committee. Coutu called it "an embarrassment that it's even made it this far."
Coutu signed on to a 2010 resolution denouncing federal mandates, claiming they "squeezed budgets of cities and towns" and claiming they contravened the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights, was ratified on December 15, 1791...
.
In May 2011, Coutu joined a group of Republican state legislators in challenging Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy's budget in court. The plaintiff
Plaintiff
A plaintiff , also known as a claimant or complainant, is the term used in some jurisdictions for the party who initiates a lawsuit before a court...
s claimed the budget was unconstitutional because it was signed into law with a $2 billion deficit. The lawsuit was thrown out at the Connecticut Superior Court
Connecticut Superior Court
The Connecticut Superior Court is the Connecticut state trial court of general jurisdiction. It hears all matters other than those heard by the Connecticut Probate Courts...
on June 24.
Fiscal policy
Coutu is one of the most fiscally conservativeFiscal conservatism
Fiscal conservatism is a political term used to describe a fiscal policy that advocates avoiding deficit spending. Fiscal conservatives often consider reduction of overall government spending and national debt as well as ensuring balanced budget of paramount importance...
members of the Connecticut House of Representatives. He has been a notable critic of Connecticut's fiscal policy, which he claims inhibits job creation. Coutu assisted and proposed a Connecticut no-tax budget.
In 2011, he proposed removing the Small Business Entity Tax for businesses with 10 or fewer employees. and to cap bonding at 10% of total budget.
On October 26th 2011, Coutu cast the lone no vote against a $1.1 billion piece of legislation. He stated, "How can we raise taxes on all families by $800 annually to provide hundreds of millions of dollars to a few private companies."
Gun control
In 2009, Coutu joined a bipartisan coalition that successfully challenged legislation that banned large-capacity ammunition magazines and firearm microstampingFirearm microstamping
Firearm microstamping, ballistic imprinting and ballistic engraving are all names given to a controversial technology that has been developed with the goal of aiding in ballistics identification; it involves the use of laser technology to engrave a microscopic marking onto the tip of the firing pin...
. He cosponsored mail in permit registration and deer hunting with a revolver. In 2010, he received an A rating from the National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
and was endorsed by the CT Citizen Defense League.
Election funding
Coutu is a critic of public funding for political campaigns in Connecticut and claims to be the only Connecticut Republican who publicly supports the Citizens' Election Program. He was one of the first candidates to qualify for state funding in 2008 and 2010, but testified in 2008 that much of this funding should be cut and has expressed concerns that the system could be abused during statewide races, including in the approval of a $3 million increase in funding for the Malloy campaign during the 2010 gubernatorial electionConnecticut gubernatorial election, 2010
The 2010 Connecticut gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010 to elect the 73rd Governor of Connecticut. Incumbent Governor M. Jodi Rell had announced in a press conference in Hartford on November 9, 2009, that she would not seek re-election in 2010...
.
Education
In 2010, Coutu was part of a bipartisan effort with 60 co-sponsors, 12 mayors, and a dozen organizations to support a pilot student scholarship program for students from low- and middle-income families. The May 7 vote, which failed 98-44, was the first relating to student scholarships in more than 20 years. In 2011, he proposed new student scholarship legislation to include special needs schools.Unfunded mandates
As the ranking member on the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, Coutu has criticized what he refers to as "unfunded mandates" passed by the state legislature.Coutu signed on to a 2010 resolution denouncing mandates, claiming they "squeezed budgets of cities and towns".
Veterans
In 2010, Coutu served as the ranking member of the Select Committee on Veterans. He is one of 62 state elected officials in America who serve in the Armed Forces.Disabled
In 2010, Coutu, who was a Personal Care Assistant, joined a group of disabled citizens to challenge HB 6486. In October 2011, Governor Daniel Malloy signed Executive Orders #9 and #10 to bypass the legislature and establish a way for unionization of Personal Care Assistants and Day Care Providers. In response Coutu formed an online petition to support citizens with disabilities.Sources
- Official Rep. Christopher Coutu website - Biography http://repcoutu.com/?page_id=5
- Official Christopher Coutu 2010 http://www.coutu2010.com
- Official Rep. Christopher Coutu website - Coutu in the news http://repcoutu.com/?page_id=463
- Feb 25th, 2009, The Day, Coutu: Stamp out legislators' costly district mailings http://www.theday.com/article/20100225/NWS12/302259440/1019&town=
- December 14, 2009, Norwich Bulletin, Coutu challenging state spending addiction http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/x1488823777/Coutu-State-spending-is-unsustainable
- December 12, 2009, Norwich Bulletin, Christopher Coutu Challenging Business as Usual http://www.norwichbulletin.com/opinions/letters/x1479444440/Budget-forum-will-answer-your-questions
- November 11, 2009, The Resident, Coutu letter to community http://www.theresident.com/tag/chris-coutu/
- November 10, 2009, Official Rob Simmons for Senate, Veterans Steering Committee http://www.joinrobsimmons.com/articles/simmons-campaign-announces-veterans-for-simmons-steering-committee
- September 2009, WXLM 104.7, Radio interview Christopher Coutu http://www.coutu2010.com/wp-content/themes/Titanium_121/images/3978618.mp3
- March 2009, Official Rep. Christopher Coutu website, Video Coutu protecting the first amendment http://cthouserules.com/archives/870
- Public Campaign, A clean election Candidate Chris Coutu http://www.publicampaign.org/blog/2009/02/12/rep-chris-coutu-a-clean-elections-profile
- Official Christopher Coutu exploratory committee http://www.Coutu2010.com
- Norwich Bulletin http://www.norwichbulletin.com/Opinion/x1145290800/Our-view-Lawmakers-lack-political-will
- Amazing Climates, Coutu interviewed for student mentoring http://www.amazingclimates.com/index.php?page=72
- Official Lt Governor Fedele, AmericanWarrior Day of Honor Flight http://www.ct.gov/ltgovmfedele/cwp/view.asp?A=2931&Q=395488