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Rob Couhig's brother, Kevin H. Couhig (born October 15, 1951), the CEO of Source Capital Corp., was elected in 2013 as the first parish president of West Feliciana Parish. He defeated fellow Republican Tom McVea, the former District 62 state representative and a one-time police juror, to claim the new position. Under the new West Feliciana Parish charter, four single-member council districts and one at-large council member superseded the former seven police jurors, whose offices were phased out of existence. Kevin Couhig is an advocate of what he calls "smart growth" so that economic development will expand with the parish maintaining its scenic beauty.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theadvocate.com/home/7593402-125/couhig-leading-among-early-voters|author=Steven Ward|title=​

Rob Couhig's brother, Kevin H. Couhig (born October 15, 1951), the CEO of Source Capital Corp., was elected in 2013 as the first parish president of West Feliciana Parish. He defeated fellow Republican Tom McVea, the former District 62 state representative and a one-time police juror, to claim the new position. Under the new West Feliciana Parish charter, four single-member council districts and one at-large council member superseded the former seven police jurors, whose offices were phased out of existence. Kevin Couhig is an advocate of what he calls "smart growth" so that economic development will expand with the parish maintaining its scenic beauty.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theadvocate.com/home/7593402-125/couhig-leading-among-early-voters|author=Steven Ward|title=​

Couhig becomes first West Feliciana Parish president|date=November 18, 2013|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|accessdate=May 30, 2014}}</ref><ref>Rob Couhig's sister, Owen Couhig Kemp (born May 1950), lives in St. Francisville. Another brother, Mark Couhig (born c. 1953) and wife Linda, resided at the time of their father's death in Sequim in Clallam County in western [[Washington]].</ref>​

Couhig becomes first West Feliciana Parish president|date=November 18, 2013|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|accessdate=May 30, 2014}}</ref><ref>Rob Couhig's sister, Owen Couhig Kemp (born May 1950), lives in St. Francisville. Another brother, Mark Couhig (born c. 1953) and wife Linda, resided at the time of their father's death in Sequim in Clallam County in western [[Washington]].</ref>​

 

In 1976, Couhig defected to the Republican Party. In 1977, he became the campaign coordinator for Republican [[Bob Livingston]], who for the second time sought to represent Louisiana's 1st congressional district in the [[United States House of Representatives]]. Livingston had lost in the 1976 general election to Democrat Richard Alvin Tonry. When Tonry was forced to resign because of campaign finance violations in 1977, Livingston won the seat in a [[special election]], with Couhig's backing, and served until 1999.<ref name=couhigpartners/>​

In 1976, Couhig changed his registration to the Republican Party. In 1977, he became the campaign coordinator for Republican [[Bob Livingston]], who for the second time sought to represent Louisiana's 1st congressional district in the [[United States House of Representatives]]. Livingston had lost in the 1976 general election to Democrat Richard Alvin Tonry. When Tonry was forced to resign because of campaign finance violations in 1977, Livingston won the seat in a [[special election]], with Couhig's backing, and served until 1999.<ref name=couhigpartners/>​

===First run for Congress, 1980===

===First run for Congress, 1980===

Not long after his first congressional race, Couhig was the campaign manager for Republican State Representative Garey Forster, who represented the New Orleans French Quarter district from 1982 to 1997.<ref name=couhigpartners/>​

Not long after his first congressional race, Couhig was the campaign manager for Republican State Representative Garey Forster, who represented the New Orleans French Quarter district from 1982 to 1997.<ref name=couhigpartners/>​

===Second run for Congress, 1999==​

===Second run for Congress, 1999==

Couhig ran for Congress again in the special election held on May 1, 1999, in the 1st congressional district to choose the successor to Bob Livingston, who resigned amid a sex scandal revealed when Livingston was slated to become [[Speaker]] of the House. He finished in fifth place with 5,149 votes (8 percent). Former Republican Governor [[David C. Treen]] was forced into a runoff for the seat with state Representative [[David Vitter]] who narrowly won the second round of balloting and held the seat from 1999 to 2005, when he became the state's first Republican U.S. senator since [[Reconstruction]]. Couhig was even overshadowed in the House race by the controversial Republican convert, [[David Duke]].​

Couhig ran for Congress again in the special election held on May 1, 1999, in the 1st congressional district to choose the successor to [[Bob Livingston]], who resigned amid a sex scandal revealed when Livingston was slated to become the new [[Speaker]] of the House. Couhig finished in fifth place with 5,149 votes (8 percent). Former Republican Governor [[David C. Treen]] was forced into a runoff for the seat with state Representative [[David Vitter]] who narrowly won the second round of balloting and held the seat from 1999 to 2005, when he became the state's first Republican [[U.S. Senator]] since [[Reconstruction]]. Couhig was even overshadowed in the House race by the controversial Republican convert, [[David Duke]].​

Couhig said that he had expected Livingston to support him in 1999 in return for the help that Couhig had rendered to Livingston in the 1977 election. Couhig said that his weak showing may have been a reflection of his inability to convince voters how his vision differed from the other Republican candidates. He noted that he spent $500,000 (770,000 in 2019 dollars) of his own money on the race despite bleak prospects.​

Couhig said that he had expected Livingston to support him in 1999 in return for the help that Couhig had rendered to Livingston in the 1977 election. Couhig said that his weak showing may have been a reflection of his inability to convince voters how his vision differed from the other Republican candidates. He noted that he spent $500,000 (770,000 in 2019 dollars) of his own money on the race despite bleak prospects.​

===Run for mayor, 2006===​

===2006 mayoral bid===

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In 2005, Greater New Orleans was devastated by [[Hurricane Katrina]] and related levee failures. The majority of the city was still in ruins and the majority of the population still living elsewhere in early 2006, for what many felt was the most important election in the city's history. Couhig and Peggy Wilson, a former member of the New Orleans City Council, were the two Republican candidates for mayor. His campaign started with television ads mocking the perceived leading candidates, [[Mitch Landrieu]], Ron Forman, and incumbent Mayor Ray Nagin. In televised debates prior to the nonpartisan blanket primary, Couhig's combative style attracted attention. MSNBC pundit [[Chris Matthews]] declared Couhig the "absolute winner" of the pre-primary debate.

In 2005, Greater New Orleans was devastated by [[Hurricane Katrina]] and related levee failures. The majority of the city was still in ruins and the majority of the population still living elsewhere in early 2006, for what many felt was the most important election in the city's history. Couhig and Peggy Wilson, a former member of the New Orleans City Council, were the two Republican candidates for mayor. His campaign started with television ads mocking the perceived leading candidates, [[Mitch Landrieu]], Ron Forman, and incumbent Mayor Ray Nagin. In televised debates prior to the nonpartisan blanket primary, Couhig's combative style attracted attention. MSNBC pundit [[Chris Matthews]] declared Couhig the "absolute winner" of the pre-primary debate.

Couhig's support may have been the "swing vote" that was critical to Nagin's reelection. Couhig said that the Landrieu "political dynasty" had failed the city. (This was a reference to Mitch Landrieu's sister [[Mary Landrieu]] and his father, former Mayor [[Maurice Edwin Landrieu|Maurice Edwin "Moon" Landrieu]].) Couhig noted that the New Orleans population peaked in 1960, even before the rise of the Landrieu family to political dominance.​

Couhig's support may have been the "swing vote" that was critical to Nagin's reelection. Couhig said that the Landrieu "political dynasty" had failed the city. (This was a reference to Mitch Landrieu's sister [[Mary Landrieu]] and his father, former Mayor [[Maurice Edwin Landrieu|Maurice Edwin "Moon" Landrieu]].) Couhig noted that the New Orleans population peaked in 1960, even before the rise of the Landrieu family to political dominance.​

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===After the 2006 election===​

In the second Nagin administration, Couhig volunteered to work unpaid for one hundred days. He co-chaired Nagin's 100-Day Initiative Plan with business owner Judith Williams.​

Couhig volunteered to work unpaid for one hundred days in the second Nagin administration. He co-chaired the mayor's 100-Day Initiative Plan with business owner Judith Williams.​

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Couhig then co-hosted "The Rob and Bo Show", a weekly radio talk show on WRNO-FM with Bo Walker, until it was canceled at the end of January 2008. <ref> [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4200/is_20080130/ai_n21217341/]​</ref>

Couhig then co-hosted ''The Rob and Bo Show,'' a weekly radio talk show on WRNO-FM with Bo Walker, until it was canceled at the end of January 2008. <ref> [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4200/is_20080130/ai_n21217341/]​</ref>

 

===Run for mayor, 2010===​

===Last bid for mayor, 2010===​

In December 2009, Couhig announced his candidacy in the 2010 New Orleans mayoral election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fox8live.com/news/local/story/Couhig-enters-mayors-race-through-cyber-gateway/-7dk4dVf7Emyw6NFkgq1WQ.cspx|title=</ref> He finished fourth, with 5 percent of vote. The race was won by the Democrat Mitch Landrieu, who received 65 percent of the vote. Couhig's half-brother, Sam LeBlanc, had run for mayor in 1986 and finished with 25 percent of the vote, a strong third-place showing in a multi-candidate primary field,<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, February 1, 1986.</ref> but victory in the runoff that year went to the African-American Democrat Sidney Barthelemy.​

In December 2009, Couhig announced his candidacy in the 2010 New Orleans mayoral election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fox8live.com/news/local/story/Couhig-enters-mayors-race-through-cyber-gateway/-7dk4dVf7Emyw6NFkgq1WQ.cspx|title=</ref> He finished fourth, with 5 percent of vote. The race was won by the Democrat Mitch Landrieu, an unsuccessful candidate in 2007, who received 65 percent of the vote. Couhig's half-brother, Sam LeBlanc, had run for mayor in 1986 and finished with 25 percent of the vote, a strong third-place showing in a multi-candidate primary field,<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, February 1, 1986.</ref> but victory in the runoff that year went to the African-American Democrat Sidney Barthelemy.​

==References==

==References==