Republican state Rep. Christopher Coutu of Norwich is exploring a run for the 2nd congressional district.
Coutu, a new father, says he was inspired to run because he is concerned about the direction of the country and how future generations of Americans will fare. His daughter, Alexandria Grace, was born in December -- and underwent open-heart surgery two days after her birth.
"As a new father, I am ashamed that our representatives in Washington have piled up over $14 trillion in debt in our name to be paid for by our children and grandchildren,'' Coutu said in a statement announcing his possible run. "Without real solutions and serious leadership we will, for the first time in our nation's history, leave to the next generation an America that is weaker than the one we inherited."
At 34, Coutu is a two-term state representative. He also served as an airman in the U.S. Air Force and is a graduate of Officer Candidate School. He currently serves as a finance officer for the Army National Guard and is active in the veterans' community -- bona fides that are bound to help him in a district like the 2nd, home to the naval submarine base in Groton as well as a heavy concentration of voters with ties to the military.
The district is currently represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney.