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==Political activities==

==Political activities==

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Couhig has been active in Louisiana politics since 1971, when at twenty-two, he served as the campaign manager<ref name=couhigpartners/> in the election of his half-brother, Sam A. LeBlanc, III, to the Louisiana House of Representatives.<ref name=couhigsrobit/> Couhig also managed LeBlanc's re-election campaign in 1975. A Democrat, LeBlanc left the legislature in 1980, when he was succeeded in House District 86 (Orleans and Jefferson parishes) by the Republican Terry W. Gee. Sam LeBlanc resides in St. Francisville with his wife, Noelle E. LeBlanc (born May 1942), a ballerina and a one-time secretary of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism. Couhig's mother, Marcelle, was first married to Sam A. LeBlanc, Jr., by whom she also bore a daughter, Marcelle L. Hickey (born August 1940) of New Orleans, Rob Couhig's half-sister.<ref name=couhigsrobit/>Then living in Donaldsonville in Ascension Parish, Marcelle married the senior Robert Couhig, after the death in World War II of her first husband, Samuel LeBlanc, II.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accessgenealogy.com/louisiana/louisiana-ww2-nmcg-casualty-list-l-surnames.htm|title=Louisiana WW2 NMCG Casualty List – L Surnames|publisher=accessgenealogy.com|accessdate=May 31, 2014}}</ref>From Marcelle's second marriage were born three more sons and another daughter.<ref name=couhigsrobit/>

Couhig has been active in Louisiana politics since 1971, when at twenty-two, he served as the campaign manager<ref name=couhigpartners/> in the election of his half-brother, [[Sam A. LeBlanc, III]], to the Louisiana House of Representatives.<ref name=couhigsrobit/> Couhig also managed LeBlanc's re-election campaign in 1975. A Democrat, LeBlanc left the legislature in 1980, when he was succeeded in House District 86 (Orleans and Jefferson parishes) by the Republican Terry W. Gee (1940-2014). Sam LeBlanc, a retired attorney, resides in St. Francisville with his wife, Noelle E. LeBlanc (born May 1942), a ballerina and a one-time secretary of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism. Couhig's mother, Marcelle, was first married to Sam A. LeBlanc, Jr., by whom she also bore a daughter, Marcelle L. Hickey (born August 1940) of New Orleans, Rob Couhig's half-sister.<ref name=couhigsrobit/>Then living in Donaldsonville in Ascension Parish, Marcelle married the senior Robert Couhig, after the death in World War II of her first husband, Samuel LeBlanc, II.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accessgenealogy.com/louisiana/louisiana-ww2-nmcg-casualty-list-l-surnames.htm|title=Louisiana WW2 NMCG Casualty List – L Surnames|publisher=accessgenealogy.com|accessdate=May 31, 2014}}</ref>From Marcelle's second marriage were born three more sons and another daughter.<ref name=couhigsrobit/>

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 Thomas Houston 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>​

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 Thomas Houston 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 advocated "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>​

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/>​

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===

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In 1980, Couhig waged a failed challenge to Democratic U.S. Representative Corrine Claiborne "Lindy" Boggs (1916-2013) of Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, popular widow of former House Majority Leader Thomas Hale Boggs, Sr. (1914-1972), of New Orleans.​

In 1980, Couhig waged a failed challenge to Democratic U.S. Representative Corrine Claiborne "Lindy" Boggs (1916-2013) of Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, popular widow of former House Majority Leader [[Hale Boggs]] of New Orleans.​

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Couhig raised some $200,000 (nearly 625,000 in 2019 dollars), a large amount at that time for a challenger in a difficult district. Lindy Boggs was the winner; she polled 45,091 votes (63.8 percent) to Couhig's 25,512 (36.2 percent). She was never seriously challenged in all of her congressional races between 1973 and 1988, when she won her last term. Couhig was actually among the stronger opponents that Boggs ever faced. Another candidate in the 1980 congressional race, Democrat Clyde F. Bel, Jr., of New Orleans, had served in the Louisiana House with Couhig's half-brother, Sam LeBlanc. Bel finished with less than 5 percent of the ballots cast.​

Couhig raised some $200,000 (nearly 625,000 in 2019 dollars), a large amount at that time for a challenger in a difficult district. Lindy Boggs was the winner; she polled 45,091 votes (63.8 percent) to Couhig's 25,512 (36.2 percent). She was never seriously challenged in all of her congressional races between 1973 and 1988, when she won her last term. Couhig was actually among the stronger opponents that Boggs ever faced. Another candidate in the 1980 congressional race, Democrat Clyde F. Bel, Jr., of New Orleans, had served in the Louisiana House with Couhig's half-brother, Sam LeBlanc. Bel finished with less than 5 percent of the ballots cast.​