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Cusimano is the son of Charles Cusimano, I, a New Orleans native (born September 29, 1927), and the former Violet Taranto (1928-2015). In addition to their one son, Charles, II, the Cusimanos had three daughters, Lisa Cusimano (formerly Lisa Brewer), Jan Simon (husband David), and Cathy Daigle (husband Keith).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://obits.theadvocate.com/obituaries/theadvocate/obituary.aspx?n=violet-taranto-cusimano&pid=176481433&fhid=5630|title=Violet Cusimano Obituary|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|accessdate=November 15, 2015}}</ref> The senior Cusimano is an engineering graduate of [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]], a former member of the LSU Board of Supervisors, and the founder of Energy Corporation of America. Cusimano, I, has also been active in Republican Party affairs and was a major fund raiser for former [[Governor]] [[Mike Foster|Murphy James Foster, Jr.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eng.lsu.edu/alumni/hodmember/charles.cusimano|title=Charles V. Cusimano: Hall of Distinction, 1998-1999|publisher=eng.lsu.edu/alumni|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref> Cusimano was already contributing to the [[Ronald W. Reagan]] campaign in 1980, while his son was a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] in the state legislature.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/elec2/80/elec-METAIRIE-LA-80.html|title=Metairie, LA Political Contributions by Individuals|publisher=city-data.com|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref>  

Cusimano is the son of Charles Cusimano, I, a New Orleans native (born September 29, 1927), and the former Violet Taranto (1928-2015). In addition to their one son, Charles, II, the Cusimanos had three daughters, Lisa Cusimano (formerly Lisa Brewer), Jan Simon (husband David), and Cathy Daigle (husband Keith).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://obits.theadvocate.com/obituaries/theadvocate/obituary.aspx?n=violet-taranto-cusimano&pid=176481433&fhid=5630|title=Violet Cusimano Obituary|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|accessdate=November 15, 2015}}</ref> The senior Cusimano is an engineering graduate of [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]], a former member of the LSU Board of Supervisors, and the founder of Energy Corporation of America. Cusimano, I, has also been active in Republican Party affairs and was a major fund raiser for former [[Governor]] [[Mike Foster|Murphy James Foster, Jr.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eng.lsu.edu/alumni/hodmember/charles.cusimano|title=Charles V. Cusimano: Hall of Distinction, 1998-1999|publisher=eng.lsu.edu/alumni|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref> Cusimano was already contributing to the [[Ronald W. Reagan]] campaign in 1980, while his son was a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] in the state legislature.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/elec2/80/elec-METAIRIE-LA-80.html|title=Metairie, LA Political Contributions by Individuals|publisher=city-data.com|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref>  

   

   

At the age of twenty-five, just as he launched his law practice, Cusimano was elected in 1979 as a Democrat to the District 81 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives. He switched to Republican affiliation at the start of his second term, 1984 to 1988.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2016: Jefferson Parish Parish|publisher=house.louisiana.gov|accessdate=May 23, 2015}}</ref> He served on the House committees on Criminal Justice, Civil Law, and Natural Resources.<ref name=cusimano>{{cite web|url=http://www.fifthjpc.com/aboutus.htm|title=About Judge Charles V. Cusimano, II|publisher=fifthjpc.com|accessdate=November 11, 2009; no longer on-line}}</ref> On October 24, 1987, he was elected again, having defeated fellow Republican Steve Little, 9,650 (65.2 percent) to 5,165 (34.8 percent) in the nonpartisan blanket primary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10241987/10241987_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana election returns|date=October 24, 1987|publisher=sos.louisiana.gov|accessdate=May 23, 2015}}</ref>

At the age of twenty-five, just as he launched his law practice, Cusimano was elected in 1979 as a Democrat to the District 81 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives. He switched to Republican affiliation at the start of his second term, 1984 to 1988.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2016: Jefferson Parish Parish|publisher=house.louisiana.gov|accessdate=May 23, 2015}}</ref> He served on the House committees on Criminal Justice, Civil Law, and Natural Resources.<ref name=cusimano>{{cite web|url=http://www.fifthjpc.com/aboutus.htm|title=About Judge Charles V. Cusimano, II|publisher=fifthjpc.com|accessdate=November 11, 2009; no longer on-line}}</ref> On October 24, 1987, he was elected again, having defeated fellow Republican Steve Little, 9,650 (65.2 percent) to 5,165 (34.8 percent) in the nonpartisan blanket primary.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns for Jefferson Parish, October 24, 1987.

Cusimano was described by his House colleague, [[Ron Gomez]] of [[Lafayette]], as "a diminitive firebrand from Metairie."<ref>[[Ron Gomez]], ''My Name Is Ron And I'm a Recovering Legislator: Memoirs of a Louisiana State Representative'' ([[Lafayette]], [[Louisiana]]: Zemog Publishing, 2000), p. 134, isbn=0-9700156-0-7</ref> In House debate over the [[New Orleans Saints]]'s lease of the Louisiana Superdome (since the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Cusimano proposed an amendment that would restrict the team's concession revenues to a minimum level, after which the proceeds would be split 50-50 with the state. The amendment, strongly opposed by the Saints' owner, Thomas Milton "Tom" Benson (1927-2018), appeared to have passed until Governor [[Edwin Edwards]], in an unprecedented move, came to the chamber to plead with the lawmakers to reverse themselves. Edwards claimed that the Cusimano amendment would cause the Saints, then a repeatedly losing team, to leave New Orleans and practically make the state the laughingstock of the nation. After the visibly shaken Edwards spoke, Representative [[Raymond Laborde]] of Marksville, Edwards' friend from childhood, stepped to the microphone and moved that the previous amendment be deleted. No debate was allowed on the previous question, and Benson and Edwards prevailed.<ref>Ron Gomez, pp. 134-137.</ref>

Cusimano was described by his House colleague, [[Ron Gomez]] of [[Lafayette]], as "a diminitive firebrand from Metairie."<ref>[[Ron Gomez]], ''My Name Is Ron And I'm a Recovering Legislator: Memoirs of a Louisiana State Representative'' ([[Lafayette]], [[Louisiana]]: Zemog Publishing, 2000), p. 134, isbn=0-9700156-0-7</ref> In House debate over the [[New Orleans Saints]]'s lease of the Louisiana Superdome (since the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Cusimano proposed an amendment that would restrict the team's concession revenues to a minimum level, after which the proceeds would be split 50-50 with the state. The amendment, strongly opposed by the Saints' owner, Thomas Milton "Tom" Benson (1927-2018), appeared to have passed until Governor [[Edwin Edwards]], in an unprecedented move, came to the chamber to plead with the lawmakers to reverse themselves. Edwards claimed that the Cusimano amendment would cause the Saints, then a repeatedly losing team, to leave New Orleans and practically make the state the laughingstock of the nation. After the visibly shaken Edwards spoke, Representative [[Raymond Laborde]] of Marksville, Edwards' friend from childhood, stepped to the microphone and moved that the previous amendment be deleted. No debate was allowed on the previous question, and Benson and Edwards prevailed.<ref>Ron Gomez, pp. 134-137.</ref>

    

    

Cusimano resigned from the legislature in 1988 to become a 24th Judicial District Court [[judge]], a position that he held from 1988- to 007.<ref name=cusimano/> His resignation from the legislature triggered a [[special election]] in District 81. Several Republicans sought to succeed Representative Cusimano, including future Republican state chairman, [[Roger F. Villere, Jr.]], a Metairie floral shop owner. However, the two candidates who reached the runoff election wereRepublicans  [[John S. Treen]], brother of former Governor [[David C. Treen]], and [[David Duke]], nationally known as a former figure in the [[Ku Klux Klan]]. Duke narrowly won the race over Treen, who enjoyed the backing of most state and national Republicans, including [[U.S. President]] [[George Herbert Walker Bush]] and former President Reagan, who opposed Duke's candidacy. Duke claimed that Treen, if elected, was willing to see [[property tax]] increases in the [[suburban]] New Orleans district.<ref>Douglas D. Rose, ''The Emergence of David Duke and the Politics of Race'' (Chapel Hil, [[North Carolinal]]: [[University of North Carolina]] Press, 1992), p. iii (ISBN 0807843814,  

Cusimano resigned from the legislature in 1988 to become a 24th Judicial District Court [[judge]], a position that he held from 1988- to 007.<ref name=cusimano/> His resignation from the legislature triggered a [[special election]] in District 81. Several Republicans sought to succeed Representative Cusimano, including future Republican state chairman, [[Roger F. Villere, Jr.]], a Metairie floral shop owner. However, the two candidates who reached the runoff election wereRepublicans  [[John Treen]], brother of former Governor [[David C. Treen]], and [[David Duke]], nationally known as a former figure in the [[Ku Klux Klan]]. Duke narrowly won the race over Treen, who enjoyed the backing of most state and national Republicans, including [[U.S. President]] [[George Herbert Walker Bush]] and former President Reagan, who opposed Duke's candidacy. Duke claimed that Treen, if elected, was willing to see [[property tax]] increases in the [[suburban]] New Orleans district.<ref>Douglas D. Rose, ''The Emergence of David Duke and the Politics of Race'' (Chapel Hil, [[North Carolinal]]: [[University of North Carolina]] Press, 1992), p. iii (ISBN 0807843814,  

ISBN 978-0-8078-4381-9). See also Michael Zatarain, ''David Duke: Evolution of a Klansman'' ([[Gretna, Louisiana: Pelican Publishing, 1990), ISBN 0-88289-817-5, ISBN 978-0-88289-817-9.</ref>  

ISBN 978-0-8078-4381-9). See also Michael Zatarain, ''David Duke: Evolution of a Klansman'' ([[Gretna, Louisiana: Pelican Publishing, 1990), ISBN 0-88289-817-5, ISBN 978-0-88289-817-9.</ref>