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Buddy Roemer

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Buddy Roemer
File:Buddy Roemer 1989.jpg
Roemer in 1989
Born
Charles Elson Roemer III

(1943-10-04) 4 October 1943 (age 83)
Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
Died17 May 2021(2021-05-17) (aged 77)
Occupation(s)Public official, financier, banker, politician
Years active1972–2012
Known for52nd Governor of Louisiana (1988–1992), U.S. Representative from Louisiana (1981–1988)

Charles Elson "Buddy" Roemer III (October 4, 1943 – May 17, 2021) was an American public official, financier, and banker who held the position of the 52nd governor of Louisiana from 1988 until 1992. Prior to that, he served in the United States House of Representatives representing Louisiana from 1981 to 1988. During his governorship in March 1991, Roemer transitioned his political affiliation from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.

In 2012, Roemer pursued the presidential nominations of both the Republican Party and the Reform Party, but eventually withdrew from both contests. Subsequently, he sought the 2012 Americans Elect nomination; however, after no candidate met the required support criteria, Americans Elect decided not to nominate anyone. Later that year, Roemer publicly backed Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson in the general election.

He was also a member of the Advisory Council for Represent.Us, an organization committed to nonpartisan efforts against corruption.

Early life, education, and early career

Born on October 4, 1943, in Shreveport, Buddy Roemer was the son of Charles Elson "Budgie" Roemer, II (1923–2012) and Adeline McDade (1923–2016). Raised on the family’s Scopena plantation near Bossier City, he graduated as valedictorian from Bossier High School in 1960. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Harvard University in 1964 and completed an MBA focused on finance at Harvard Business School in 1967.

Following his studies, Roemer returned to Louisiana to join his father’s computer enterprise and later established two banks. In 1972, he was elected as a delegate to the Louisiana Constitutional Convention held in 1973. Among his fellow delegates were notable figures such as future gubernatorial advisor Robert G. Pugh, U.S. District Judge Tom Stagg, and former state legislator Frank Fulco.

Roemer’s father played a key role managing Edwin Edwards’ 1971 gubernatorial campaign and served as commissioner of administration during Edwards’ initial term as governor. Buddy Roemer contributed as a regional coordinator for Edwards’ campaign before founding his own political consulting business.

U.S. House of Representatives

Roemer served as the representative for Louisiana's 4th congressional district, which encompasses northwestern Louisiana including Shreveport and Bossier City.

Elections

In the 1978 nonpartisan blanket primary for the open seat of the 4th district—vacated by incumbent Joe Waggonner—Roemer entered the race. Waggonner opposed him due to Roemer’s criticism of the expensive Red River navigation project that Waggonner supported. Roemer finished third narrowly behind Democrat Buddy Leach and Republican Jimmy Wilson. Leach ultimately won the general election by a margin of 266 votes.

In 1980, Roemer and Wilson again challenged Leach; State Senator Foster Campbell was also a candidate. Leach led during the primary while Roemer placed second. In the runoff election, with Wilson’s endorsement, Roemer defeated Leach by a substantial margin of 64 to 36 percent.

Roemer secured re-election without opposition in the years 1982, 1984, and 1986.

Tenure

Throughout his time in Congress, Roemer, although a Democrat, frequently aligned with Ronald Reagan's policies, leading to frequent disagreements with Democratic leaders. He labeled House Speaker Tip O'Neill as "too liberal," while O'Neill described Roemer as "often wrong but never in doubt."

Upon Roemer's departure to assume the governorship, his administrative assistant, Republican Jim McCrery, took over his congressional seat.

Roemer was among forty-eight House Democrats who supported Reagan's 1981 tax reduction plan, which was opposed by O'Neill and fellow Louisiana Democrat Gillis William Long. In 1984, he endorsed Reagan’s assistance to El Salvador, referring to it as "a freedom-loving country," and observed the Salvadoran national elections firsthand.

In 1988, Roemer commended Democratic vice-presidential candidate Lloyd Bentsen over Republican Dan Quayle for their influence on Louisiana politics. While serving as governor and maintaining his Democratic affiliation, he welcomed Republicans during the 1988 Republican National Convention held in New Orleans.

Committee assignments

During his initial term in Congress, Democratic leadership denied Roemer a position on the Banking Committee due to his voting alignment with Republicans on House procedural rules. Consequently, he served on the Public Works and Transportation Committee. He was affiliated with the "boll weevil" group and participated in the Conservative Democratic Forum.

1987 gubernatorial election

Roemer entered a crowded Democratic field challenging three-term incumbent Governor Edwin Edwards, whose controversial administration deeply divided the electorate. Other contenders included Republican U.S. Representative Bob Livingston, Democrat Billy Tauzin, and Secretary of State James H. "Jim" Brown.

His campaign carried personal weight as his father, Charles E. Roemer II, had been Edwards’ chief aide before being convicted for selling state insurance contracts. Gordon Hensley served as an advisor throughout Roemer’s campaign.

Running on a reform platform dubbed the "Roemer Revolution," he pledged to revamp the state budget, improve education, reform campaign finance laws, and streamline government bureaucracy. At a pivotal candidate forum, when questioned about endorsing Edwards if eliminated before the runoff, Roemer unequivocally declined—unlike other candidates who hesitated—earning him strong media praise as the 'good government candidate.'

Roemer climbed from last place in polls to lead the primary with 33%, surpassing Edwards’ 28%. On election night, Edwards unexpectedly conceded, effectively handing control to Roemer before the general election and preventing him from expanding his coalition.

Tenure as governor

Roemer was sworn in on March 14, 1988. Soon after taking office, he appointed William Hawthorn Lynch, an investigative reporter from the New Orleans Times-Picayune, as Louisiana’s inaugural inspector general tasked with combating corruption and inefficiency; Lynch held this position until 2004. Additionally, Roemer named Dennis Stine—a timber industry businessman and state legislator—as commissioner of administration for his term.

In October 1989, voters rejected several of Roemer’s tax proposals but approved a constitutional amendment aimed at transportation improvements. Confronted with a $1.3 billion budget shortfall, Roemer made its elimination a top priority. His first chief of staff, Len Sanderson Jr., a trusted campaign ally and reform proponent, was replaced following internal disagreements; P.J. Mills succeeded him to bring experience and steadiness. Sanderson’s departure signaled a move away from reformist zeal toward more conventional politics, although some accounts attribute it to recovery from an accident.

Roemer engaged political consultant Elliott Stonecipher to advance his policy goals. He convened a special legislative session focused on tax and fiscal reforms designed to reduce spending and close state-run facilities; however, voters defeated these measures in a constitutional referendum.

His administration emphasized increasing teacher salaries and state employee wages, tightening campaign finance regulations, and championing environmental protection—often putting him at odds with the oil and gas sector and a legislature largely loyal to Edwards. Early reform initiatives garnered commendation from business figures such as Edward J. Steimel of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.

In 1989, Roemer chose not to consider clemency for Gary Tyler amid heightened racial tensions and David Duke’s influence; Tyler remained incarcerated until 2016.

In 1990, Roemer vetoed legislation banning abortion in cases of rape and incest on constitutional grounds related to Roe v. Wade. The legislature overrode his veto despite alienating some socially conservative constituents; the law was subsequently struck down by a federal court.

Roemer faced criticism after introducing positive thinking methods into staff management practices. He separated from his second wife in 1989; they had one son together, Dakota Frost Roemer, who later became a businessman in Baton Rouge.

During his governorship, Louisiana legalized both the state lottery and riverboat gambling—measures that were contentious among some reform advocates. In 1991, legislation authorized floating casinos along with video poker at bars and truck stops; these ventures commenced after Roemer’s term concluded.

1991 party switch

In March 1991, just months ahead of the state elections, Roemer made the decision to join the Republican Party, reportedly influenced by John H. Sununu, then White House Chief of Staff under President Bush. Although Roemer had been a newly elected Democratic governor, he had previously appeared at the 1988 Republican National Convention held in New Orleans—a city chosen thanks to the efforts of Virginia Martinez, a longtime Louisiana Republican National Committeewoman who had also chaired the 1988 Host Committee and worked for Livingston.

Roemer’s change of party affiliation late in his term generated dissatisfaction among members of both major parties. Louisiana GOP chairman Billy Nungesser expressed particular frustration. After unsuccessfully attempting to cancel the state Republicans’ endorsement convention, Roemer chose not to attend. The convention ultimately backed U.S. Representative Clyde C. Holloway, a candidate supported by anti-abortion advocates and opposed by Roemer himself.

1991 gubernatorial election

The open primary for Louisiana’s 1991 governor’s race included Roemer, Edwin Edwards, David Duke, and Congressman Clyde Holloway. Roemer’s campaign was weakened by previous missteps during his tenure, while Edwards and Duke retained solid support bases. Ultimately, Roemer placed third in the primary. A critical factor contributing to his defeat was a last-minute $500,000 advertising campaign funded by Jack Kent, owner of Marine Shale—a company targeted by Roemer's administration for environmental violations.

Roemer’s loss set the stage for a nationally scrutinized runoff between Duke and Edwards. Despite advocating an "Anyone but Edwards" position, Roemer endorsed Edwards over Duke, who was widely regarded as the de facto Republican contender.

Upon leaving office, Roemer expressed confidence that his relatively unrecognized achievements would be appreciated during Edwards’ upcoming fourth term. He attributed much of his electoral defeat to alienating key special interest groups.

As of the 2023 election cycle, Roemer remains the most recent governor hailing from northern Louisiana.

Post-gubernatorial career

Immediately following his departure from the governorship, Roemer returned to academia in spring 1992 by teaching an economics course at Harvard University, his alma mater.

The Sterling Group, Inc. (1992–1997)

Following the 1991 election, Roemer joined forces with longtime associate Joseph Traigle to establish The Sterling Group, Inc., a company focused on international trade involving plastic raw materials between the United States and Mexico. Roemer took on the role of chairman while Traigle served as president. Advocating for expanded commerce linking Louisiana with both the U.S. and Mexico, Roemer eventually sold his stake to Traigle in 1997.

1995 gubernatorial election

Roemer attempted a political resurgence in 1995 by running on a conservative platform emphasizing crime reduction and welfare reform measures—proposals included using prisoner chain gangs for highway maintenance work. Although he initially led in polling, his support declined after State Senator Mike Foster switched from Democrat to Republican during the campaign and attracted conservative voters. Roemer finished fourth with 18% of the vote, narrowly missing advancement to the runoff.

2004 U.S. Senate election

In 2004, Roemer briefly contemplated entering the race for the U.S. Senate seat left open by John Breaux’s retirement but ultimately decided against running. The seat was subsequently won by Republican David Vitter.

Later business career

Following his political career, Roemer shifted his focus to the fields of investing and banking. He launched a company dedicated to developing retirement communities aimed at university graduates and founded Business First Bank in Baton Rouge, where he served as President and CEO. His daughter-in-law, Heather, held a senior position in human resources within the bank.

In June 2005, Roemer underwent surgery for triple bypass. Three years later, in 2008, he endorsed John McCain’s campaign for president.

Roemer was honored with induction into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in 2000.

Political commentator Ron Gomez attributed Roemer’s 1991 electoral loss to his ambitious policy agenda, inexperienced team, and difficulties within the legislature. Nonetheless, Gomez recognized Roemer as a persuasive speaker and a strong advocate addressing issues such as crime, corruption, inadequate education, and environmental pollution.

In April 2014, Roemer’s firm, Roemer, Robinson, Melville & Co., LLC, invested $4 million to become a partner in The Young Turks online network. This alliance highlighted their mutual commitment to campaign finance reform. While Roemer’s company holds a seat on the advisory board, it does not exert editorial influence.

2012 presidential candidacy

In January 2011, Roemer revealed he was contemplating a run for the 2012 U.S. presidential election. He officially announced his Republican primary campaign on July 21, 2011, at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.

Having established an exploratory committee on March 3, 2011, Roemer made campaign finance reform a cornerstone of his platform. He promised to cap individual donations at $100 (approximately $ in ) and rejected all contributions from PACs, Super PACs, and corporations. Although he participated in a March 2011 Iowa forum hosted by the Faith and Freedom Coalition, Roemer was excluded from Republican debates due to low polling figures and was frequently left out of early polls until the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire primary in 2012.

Lacking traditional media coverage, Roemer turned to social media platforms to connect with voters. His fundraising averaged about $30,000 monthly—substantially less than frontrunners—reflecting his strict limits on donations. His campaign received some attention when he appeared in a November 2011 advertisement for Stephen Colbert’s Super PAC that humorously highlighted coordination loopholes.

On November 30, 2011, Roemer pursued the Americans Elect nomination. He withdrew from the Republican race on February 23, 2012, opting instead to seek the Reform Party nomination. After Americans Elect decided not to field a candidate on May 17, 2012, Roemer ended his campaign on May 31 due to insufficient ballot access nationwide.

Although he had considered leaving the Republican Party after his campaign concluded, Louisiana voter records from October 2013 and February 2016 indicate that Roemer remained registered as a Republican in East Baton Rouge Parish.

Personal life and death

Roemer was married three times; his first two marriages ended in divorce. He had three children: one daughter named Caroline and two sons named Chas and Dakota.

In 2014, he experienced a stroke that impaired his speech and also lived with type 1 diabetes. Roemer passed away at his residence in Baton Rouge on May 17, 2021, at the age of 77.

See also

References

Specific


General
  • Bridges, Tyler. The Rise of David Duke. University of Mississippi: Jackson, 1994.
  • Bridges, Tyler. Bad Bet on the Bayou: The Rise of Gambling in Louisiana, and the Fall of Governor Edwin Edwards. Farrar, Straus & Giroux: New York, 2001.
  • DuBos, Clancy. “Roemer’s Redemption: The Former Governor Takes Another Shot at the Mansion.” Gambit Weekly. September 19, 1995.
  • Gardner, James C., Jim Gardner and Shreveport, Vol. II. Shreveport: Ritz Publications, 2006, 285–288.
  • Gomez, Ron (2000), My Name Is Ron And I'm a Recovering Legislator: Memoirs of a Louisiana State Representative, Lafayette, Louisiana: Zemog Publishing
  • Maginnis, John. Cross to Bear. Darkhorse Press, Baton Rouge, 1992.
  • Reeves, Miriam G. The Governors of Louisiana. Gretna: Pelican Press, 1991.

External links

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