State Rep. Chris Coutu says he's running for Congress because he's deeply concerned about the "dire circumstances facing our country."
Coutu, a Republican from the Taftville section of Norwich, cited the climbing national debt, rising gas prices and stagnating employment figures.
"As a new father, I am ashamed that our representatives in Washington have piled up over $14 trillion in debt to be paid for by our children and grandchildren,'' Coutu said in an email sent to supporters this morning.
"As a fiscally conservative state legislator who defeated a 14-year Democrat incumbent, I've fought for balanced budgets, low taxes and fewer regulations. As a former financial advisor and tax professional who is working to start a new small business in Connecticut, I have seen first-hand how policies coming out of Washington, D.C. and Hartford make it harder to create jobs and keep the jobs we have.
"And as a veteran of the United States Air Force and an officer in the Army National Guard, I know our nation is most secure when it is strong, and I know we must not send our troops into harm's way without a real plan for victory," Coutu said.
Coutu is looking to unseat U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, a three-term Democrat.
