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|spouse=Rhonda N. Pylant

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|children=Steven, Jr., and Jason Pylant

|children=Steven, Jr., and Jason Pylant

Pylant won the House seat in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 22, 2011. He carried the backing of Governor [[Bobby Jindal]], who was elected to a second term.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theind.com/news/9023-jindal-weighs-in-on-oct-22-election|title=Jindal weighs in on Oct. 22 election|publisher=theind.com|accessdate=October 22, 2011}}</ref> With 9,119 votes (56.3 percent), Pylant defeated the Democratic candidate, Cleveland Webb "Cleve" Womack (born 1953) of Jonesville in Catahoula Parish, 9,119 votes (56.3 percent) to 7,066 ballots (43.7 percent). To cement his victory margin, Pylant received 71 percent of the vote in his own Franklin Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10222011/10222011_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana primary election returns, October 22, 2011|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=October 24, 2011}}</ref> Running as a Democrat in 2007, Ellington had also defeated Womack for the position. At that time the district did not include any precincts from LaSalle Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11172007/11172007_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana general election returns, November 17, 2007|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=October 24, 2011}}</ref>

Pylant won the House seat in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 22, 2011. He carried the backing of Governor [[Bobby Jindal]], who was elected to a second term.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theind.com/news/9023-jindal-weighs-in-on-oct-22-election|title=Jindal weighs in on Oct. 22 election|publisher=theind.com|accessdate=October 22, 2011}}</ref> With 9,119 votes (56.3 percent), Pylant defeated the Democratic candidate, Cleveland Webb "Cleve" Womack (born 1953) of Jonesville in Catahoula Parish, 9,119 votes (56.3 percent) to 7,066 ballots (43.7 percent). To cement his victory margin, Pylant received 71 percent of the vote in his own Franklin Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10222011/10222011_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana primary election returns, October 22, 2011|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=October 24, 2011}}</ref> Running as a Democrat in 2007, Ellington had also defeated Womack for the position. At that time the district did not include any precincts from LaSalle Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11172007/11172007_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana general election returns, November 17, 2007|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=October 24, 2011}}</ref>

   

   

Pylant served as a Republican sheriff in Franklin Parish from 1996 to 2012. He was first elected to succeed the Democrat Eugene Parker in the sheriff's primary held in 1995, when he polled 5,784 votes (66.6 percent). He defeated three opponents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10211995/10211995_21.html|title=Louisiana primary election returns, October 21, 1995|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=October 24, 2011}}</ref>

Pylant served as a Republican sheriff in Franklin Parish from 1996 to 2012. He was first elected to succeed the Democrat Eugene Parker in the sheriff's primary held in 1995, when he polled 5,784 votes (66.6 percent). He defeated three opponents, including [[L. D. Knox]] of Winnsboro, who argued for "None of the Above" ballot options.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10211995/10211995_21.html|title=Louisiana primary election returns, October 21, 1995|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=October 24, 2011}}</ref>

   

   

When Pylant became sheriff, Franklin Parish still owed $8 million for its detention center, which had been completed in 1992. As Pylant vacated the office, the sheriff's department expected to have $7 million in assets. "We were able to give $1.5 million back to the taxpayers in the form of a half-cent [[sales tax]] and a 9.4 mil [[property ]]. We expanded the jail at no cost to the taxpayer and brought fiscal stability to the sheriff’s department to secure its future in Franklin Parish. [We took] a hard look at how the money is spent and how we were able to increase our revenue; there are some lessons there that I think could be taken to Baton Rouge and done on a larger scale," said Pylant in his announcement of candidacy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.richlandtoday.com/content/political-announcement-24|title=Political announcement: Steve Pylant, State Representative, District 20|publisher=richlandtoday.com|accessdate=May 14, 2011}}</ref>

When Pylant became sheriff, Franklin Parish still owed $8 million for its detention center, which had been completed in 1992. As Pylant vacated the office, the sheriff's department expected to have $7 million in assets. "We were able to give $1.5 million back to the taxpayers in the form of a half-cent [[sales tax]] and a 9.4 mil [[property ]]. We expanded the jail at no cost to the taxpayer and brought fiscal stability to the sheriff’s department to secure its future in Franklin Parish. [We took] a hard look at how the money is spent and how we were able to increase our revenue; there are some lessons there that I think could be taken to Baton Rouge and done on a larger scale," said Pylant in his announcement of candidacy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.richlandtoday.com/content/political-announcement-24|title=Political announcement: Steve Pylant, State Representative, District 20|publisher=richlandtoday.com|accessdate=May 14, 2011}}</ref>