District towns: Canterbury, Norwich, Scotland, Sprague

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Election history: Coutu unseated a seven-term Democratic incumbent, Jack Malone, in 2008.

2008 general election

Public financing: Coutu qualified for $24,946.45 in public financing for his campaign under the Citizens' Election Program. He returned $231.12 to the state.

Background: When the House Republican class of 2008 holds its reunion, it will only need a table for two: Coutu and Anthony Hwang of Fairfield.  Coutu is an Air Force veteran now employed by the Connecticut National Guard.

Committees: Finance, Human Services, Judiciary, Veterans

Education: A.S., Three Rivers Community College; B.A., Eastern Connecticut State University; M.B.A., University of Hartford

2008 Financial Disclosure: The only outside income Coutu reported was from the Connecticut National Guard. He reported owning no real estate and no securities worth more than the $5,000 threshold.

He filed a confidential addendum listing any debts exceeding $10,000. He declined to release the addendum, as is his choice under the law.

A note on financial disclosure: Every spring, officials are required to disclose the ownership of real estate, the source of any income exceeding $1,000 in the previous calendar year and securities worth more than $5,000. They also are required to file an addendum in which they report any debt of more than $10,000; this may by law be kept confidential.