Complex sentence: From 1996 to 2012, Pylant, already an experienced law-enforcement officer, was the sheriff of Franklin Parish, having been initially elected as a Republican in the nonpartisan blanket primary held in 1995 to succeed the Democrat Eugene Parker.
Split into simpler sentences: From 1996 to 2012, Pylant, already an experienced law-enforcement officer, was Franklin Parish sheriff. He was initially elected in the nonpartisan blanket primary held in 1995 to succeed the Democrat Eugene Parker.