Steve Pugh (Louisiana politician)
Encyclopedia
Stephen E. Pugh, known as Steve Pugh (born April 1, 1961), is a businessman and financial advisor from Ponchatoula
, Louisiana
, who is a Republican
member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from District 73 in Tangipahoa Parish
.
Pugh is a native of Hammond
in Tangipahoa Parish. In 1979, Pugh briefly attended Southeastern Louisiana University
in Hammond. In 2000, he graduated from the Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS) College of Financial Planning. From 1978 to 1999, Pugh operated a floral shop. From 1981-1984, Pugh chaired the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival. He is Roman Catholic. His wife is Elizabeth Pugh, and the couple has two sons, Stephen and Christopher.
With no previous political experience except a competitive but losing campaign for the District 73 seat in 1991, Pugh was elected to the state House in 2007 for the seat vacated by the term-limited Republican Henry "Tank" Powell
. Pugh led in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, having polled 6,108 votes (43.7 percent). He was scheduled to enter a runoff election with fellow Republican Michelle Aycock, who received 3,327 votes (23.8 percent). A third Republican, Tony Licciardi, and a Democrat
, Scott Ploof, trailed with 2,971 and 1,566 votes, respectively. However, Aycock decided not to contest a runoff election, and Pugh hence won the seat without opposition in the general election.
Pugh is an advocate for the elderly and the deaf and hard-of-hearing. He is the legislative point man of the free captioned telephone and telecommunications relay services provided by Hamilton Relay in District 73 and later throughout the state.
In the face of a large state budget shortfall in 2011, Pugh addressed the Southeastern faculty senate and opposed cuts in higher education and health. Instead, he urged his colleagues and Governor Bobby Jindal
to work with State Treasurer John Neely Kennedy, who has submitted a 16-point plan for trimming the budget and determining more efficient methods of operations.
In his first term, Pugh served on the committees of (1) Commerce, (2) House and Governmental Affairs, and (3) Municipal, Parochial, and Cultural Affairs. In the 2011 legislative session, Pugh supported a successful House measure to provide for random drug screening of welfare recipients, but the measure died procedurally in the State Senate
. Pugh, meanwhile, opposed the establishment of a commission to determine how the state might gradually abolish its income tax
.
Pugh was handily reelected in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 22, 2011. He defeated fellow Republican David P. Englade, 7,464 (81.1 percent) to 1,740 (18.9 percent).
Ponchatoula, Louisiana
Ponchatoula is a city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,180 at the 2000 census. Ponchatoula calls itself the "Strawberry Capital of the World". It is part of the Hammond Micropolitan Statistical Area. The current mayor is Bob Zabbia.-Geography:Ponchatoula is...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, who is a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
from District 73 in Tangipahoa Parish
Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
Tangipahoa Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana, one of the Florida Parishes. The parish seat is Amite City, but the major city is Hammond. As of 2006, the population was 113,137...
.
Pugh is a native of Hammond
Hammond, Louisiana
Hammond is the largest city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,049 at the 2009 census. It is home to Southeastern Louisiana University...
in Tangipahoa Parish. In 1979, Pugh briefly attended Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University is a state-funded public university in Hammond, Louisiana, United States. It was founded in 1925 by Linus A. Sims, the principal of Hammond High School, as Hammond Junior College, located in a wing of the high school building. Sims succeeded in getting the campus...
in Hammond. In 2000, he graduated from the Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS) College of Financial Planning. From 1978 to 1999, Pugh operated a floral shop. From 1981-1984, Pugh chaired the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival. He is Roman Catholic. His wife is Elizabeth Pugh, and the couple has two sons, Stephen and Christopher.
With no previous political experience except a competitive but losing campaign for the District 73 seat in 1991, Pugh was elected to the state House in 2007 for the seat vacated by the term-limited Republican Henry "Tank" Powell
Henry "Tank" Powell
Henry Watson Powell, known as Henry "Tank" Powell , is an insurance agent in Ponchatoula in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, who served as a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 73 from 1996 until term-limited in 2008...
. Pugh led in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, having polled 6,108 votes (43.7 percent). He was scheduled to enter a runoff election with fellow Republican Michelle Aycock, who received 3,327 votes (23.8 percent). A third Republican, Tony Licciardi, and a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, Scott Ploof, trailed with 2,971 and 1,566 votes, respectively. However, Aycock decided not to contest a runoff election, and Pugh hence won the seat without opposition in the general election.
Pugh is an advocate for the elderly and the deaf and hard-of-hearing. He is the legislative point man of the free captioned telephone and telecommunications relay services provided by Hamilton Relay in District 73 and later throughout the state.
In the face of a large state budget shortfall in 2011, Pugh addressed the Southeastern faculty senate and opposed cuts in higher education and health. Instead, he urged his colleagues and Governor Bobby Jindal
Bobby Jindal
Piyush "Bobby" Jindal is the 55th and current Governor of Louisiana and formerly a member of the United States House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican Party....
to work with State Treasurer John Neely Kennedy, who has submitted a 16-point plan for trimming the budget and determining more efficient methods of operations.
In his first term, Pugh served on the committees of (1) Commerce, (2) House and Governmental Affairs, and (3) Municipal, Parochial, and Cultural Affairs. In the 2011 legislative session, Pugh supported a successful House measure to provide for random drug screening of welfare recipients, but the measure died procedurally in the State Senate
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
. Pugh, meanwhile, opposed the establishment of a commission to determine how the state might gradually abolish its income tax
State income tax
State and local income taxes are imposed in addition to Federal income tax. State income tax is allowed as a deduction in computing Federal income tax, subject to limitations for individuals. Some localities impose an income tax, often based on state income tax calculations. Forty-three states...
.
Pugh was handily reelected in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 22, 2011. He defeated fellow Republican David P. Englade, 7,464 (81.1 percent) to 1,740 (18.9 percent).