Rep. Pugh, Stephen E. (R)
District# 73, Ponchatoula

• District # 73: House District 1
• Party: Republican
• Caucus Membership: Louisiana Republican Legislative Delegation
  Louisiana Rural Caucus
  
• Occupation: Financial Advisor
• Education: Ponchatoula High School; Southeastern Louisiana University, College of Financial Planning
• Spouse: Elizabeth
• Year Elected: 2007
• Last Year Eligible(Term Limit): 2020
• 2007 Election
For a political newcomer, Steve Pugh received impressive numbers in the primary election. He garnered 44 percent against three other candidates—businesswoman Michelle Aycock, homebuilder and Hammond City Councilmember Tony Licciardi and SLU graduate student Scott Ploof—of whom are all Republican except for Democrat Ploof. Aycock made the runoff but withdrew about one week after the primary.

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• Economic: Already seeing significant development at the time, District 73 experienced overnight growth from Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 as many residents from New Orleans and St. Bernard relocated to the north shore of Lake Ponchartrain. The district encompasses the southern part of Tangipahoa parish, including the city of Hammond and all of Ponchatoula. Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond is the district’s largest employer. Hammond also is home to the major retail center for many of the Florida parishes’ residents and to large distribution centers for grocery and retail stores. Ponchatoula has antique and art shops in its revitalized historic downtown that draws tourists in as does the annual Strawberry Festival. Situated near Interstate 55 and Interstate 12, residents in this district easily commute to jobs in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
• Social: This once rural district has become more suburban due to new residents moving here from Baton Rouge and New Orleans. These new residents make the district more white collar than it used to be, and the average income level has increased. The district is ethnically diverse, though white registered voters account for 80 percent of the population.
• Political: This district has always been conservative, and the new residents are making it even more so. In statewide races, Republicans carry this district easily. Making the district somewhat politically balanced is the fact that about half the population is still registered Democrat with some liberal African American and union voters.

• Currently a registered stock broker for Fidelity Homestead Bank, Stephen Pugh owns St. Patrick Apartments, is involved with the Southgate community development and is the former owner of Pugh’s Florist of Ponchatoula. His civic involvement includes serving as the past chairman of the Strawberry Festival and a member of the Kiwanis Club as well as the Council on Aging.
• Pugh and his family are devout Catholics and are very involved with St. Albert’s Chapel on the campus of SLU, where he is an Extra-Ordinary Minister of the Eucharist, and his wife is a lector. Pugh wants to be the representative for citizens with disabilities in his district in order to make sure that they are treated with fairness and respect and given the right to a quality life.
• Pugh has shown an interest in election issue ranging from qualifying dates to the records of registrars. That fits right into his key committee assignment on House and Governmental Affairs, where he’ll play major role in the upcoming redistricting process.
• Education, skilled workforce and infrastructure concern Pugh the most. He believes that theses issues need improvement in order to move Louisiana forward. Pugh will lead the fight to fund and protect the educational system from kindergarten through higher education, especially SLU. Look for Pugh, an insulin-dependent diabetic for 44 years, to be a voice and an advocate in the legislature for diabetics statewide.