Coutinho was born in Newark the son of Maria and Bernardino Coutinho, two Portuguese-Americancommunity leaders in the city. He earned a B.S. degree from New York University, with a major in Economics and Finance, and was awarded an M.B.A. from New York University in International Operations and Organizational Behavior. He is managing partner at Alter International beginning that position in 1998. Other jobs he has held include being the president of Coutex Inc. and a manager at Coutinho's Bakery, a long-time family business. He served the City of Newark as Central Planning Board Commissioner from 1996 to 2005 and as a Zoning Board of Adjustment Commissioner from 1993 to 1996. He was an Essex County Utilities Authority Commissioner from 1992 to 1998. He is a resident of the Ironbound section of Newark.
In 1997, incumbent 29th District Assemblyman Jackie R. Mattison resigned in May 1997 following his sentencing for bribery charges. Coutinho was chosen by the local Essex County Democratic Committee members to fill the seat until the expiration of Mattison's term in January 1998. His appointment to the New Jersey Legislature made him the first Portuguese-American to serve in the Legislature. He declined to seek election to a full term. He was then elected to the General Assembly from the same district in 2007 defeating incumbent Wilfredo Caraballo in the June 2007Democratic primary. In the Assembly, he served on the Commerce and Economic Development Committee, the Budget Committee, the Human Services Committee, and the Joint State Leasing and Space Utilization Committee. On September 6, 2013, Coutinho announced that he would drop out as a candidate in the upcoming general election. At the time, he cited family reasons and his health for his retirement from the Assembly. He then resigned from the office on September 11, 2013 amid an investigation into a charity that had been established by his father. A special convention of 200 Essex County Democratic Committee members chose Eliana Pintor Marin to fill his vacant seat in the Assembly and to take his ballot position for the November 2013 general election. Coutinho subsequently pleaded guilty the next day to theft and falsifying of records related to his personal use of funds intended for his family's foundation. He was sentenced to three years' probation and must pay restitution as well as never again serve as an elected official or public employee of the state.
District 29
Each of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly. The other representatives from the 29th District for the 2012-2013 Legislative Session are:
