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==Background==

==Background==

Pugh is a native of Hammond in Tangipahoa Parish. In 1979, he briefly attended Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond. In 2000, he graduated as an Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS) from the College of Financial Planning. From 1978 to 1999, Pugh operated a floral shop. From 1981 to 1984, Pugh chaired the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival. He is a [[Roman Catholic]]. His wife is Elizabeth Pugh, and the couple has two sons, Stephen and Christopher.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.congress.org/bio/id/62110|title=Rep. Steve Pugh|publisher=congress.org|accessdate=August 26, 2011}}</ref><ref name=vsmart>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=93704|title=Rep. Steve Pugh|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=April 2, 2020}}</ref>​

Pugh is a native of Hammond in Tangipahoa Parish. In 1979, he briefly attended Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond. In 2000, he graduated as an Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS) from the College of Financial Planning. From 1978 to 1999, Pugh operated a floral shop. From 1981 to 1984, Pugh chaired the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival. He is a [[Roman Catholic]]. His wife is Elizabeth Pugh, and the couple has two sons, Stephen and Christopher.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.congress.org/bio/id/62110|title=Rep. Steve Pugh|publisher=congress.org|accessdate=August 26, 2011}}</ref><ref name=vsmart>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=93704|title=Rep. Steve Pugh|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=April 2, 2020}}</ref>​

With no previous political experience except a competitive but losing campaign for the District 73 seat in 1991, Pugh faced then-incumbent Democrat, Dennis Paul Hebert (1926-2015) in a [[general election]], won by Hebert with 53 percent of the ballots cast. It was Hebert's last successful race<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 16, 1991.</ref> 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 [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Scott Ploof, trailed with 2,971 and 1,566 votes, respectively.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> Aycock, however, decided not to contest a runoff election, and Pugh hence won the seat without opposition in the general election.

With no previous political experience except a competitive but losing campaign for the District 73 seat in 1991, Pugh faced then-incumbent Democrat, Dennis Paul Hebert (1926-2015) in a [[general election]], won by Hebert with 53 percent of the ballots cast. It was Hebert's last successful race<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 16, 1991.</ref> 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 [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Scott Ploof, trailed with 2,971 and 1,566 votes, respectively.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> Aycock, however, 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 was 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/louisiana-state-representative-steve-pugh-to-drive-awareness-for-hamilton-relay-captioned-telephone-and-telecommunications-relay-services-115552539.html|title=Louisiana State Representative Steve Pugh to Drive Awareness for Hamilton Relay Captioned Telephone and Telecommunications Relay Services|publisher=prnewswire.com|accessdate=August 26, 2011}}</ref>​

Pugh is an advocate for the elderly and the deaf and hard-of-hearing. He was 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/louisiana-state-representative-steve-pugh-to-drive-awareness-for-hamilton-relay-captioned-telephone-and-telecommunications-relay-services-115552539.html|title=Louisiana State Representative Steve Pugh to Drive Awareness for Hamilton Relay Captioned Telephone and Telecommunications Relay Services: Pugh to speak throughout Louisiana to educate the public on available services for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or have difficulty speaking|publisher=prnewswire.com|date=February 2011|accessdate=April 2, 2020}}</ref>​

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 then [[Governor]] [[Bobby Jindal]], a fellow Republican, to work with then state Treasurer [[John Neely Kennedy]], who had submitted a 16-point plan for trimming the budget and identifying more efficient methods of operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hammondstar.com/articles/2011/06/16/top_stories/education/5704.txt|title=​

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 then [[Governor]] [[Bobby Jindal]], a fellow Republican, to work with then state Treasurer [[John Neely Kennedy]], who had submitted a 16-point plan for trimming the budget and identifying more efficient methods of operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hammondstar.com/articles/2011/06/16/top_stories/education/5704.txt|title=​