Buddy Roemer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Buddy Roemer
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 52nd Governor of Louisiana | |
| In office March 14, 1988 – January 13, 1992 |
|
| Lieutenant | Paul Hardy |
| Preceded by | Edwin Edwards |
| Succeeded by | Edwin Edwards |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 4th district |
|
| In office January 3, 1981 – March 14, 1988 |
|
| Preceded by | Buddy Leach |
| Succeeded by | Jim McCrery |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Charles Elson Roemer III
October 4, 1943 Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | May 17, 2021 (aged 77) Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (before 1991) Republican (1991–2012, 2013–2021) Reform (2012–2013) |
| Spouses |
Cookie Demler
(m. 1962; div. 1981)Patti Crocker
(m. 1981; div. 2000)Scarlett Roemer
(m. 2000) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Charles E. Roemer II (father) |
| Education | Harvard University (BA, MBA) |
Charles Elson "Buddy" Roemer III (born October 4, 1943 – died May 17, 2021) was an American politician, investor, and banker. He served as the 52nd governor of Louisiana from 1988 to 1992. Before that, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1981 to 1988. In 1991, while he was governor, Roemer changed his political party from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.
Later, Roemer ran for president in 2012. He sought nominations from both the Republican Party and the Reform Party. He also tried for the Americans Elect nomination, but that group decided not to have a candidate. In the end, he supported Gary Johnson, who was the Libertarian candidate for president. Roemer also worked with Represent.Us, an organization that fights against corruption in politics.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Buddy Roemer was born in Shreveport on October 4, 1943. His parents were Charles Elson "Budgie" Roemer II and Adeline McDade. He grew up on his family's farm, called Scopena plantation, near Bossier City.
He went to public schools and graduated as the best student (valedictorian) from Bossier High School in 1960. In 1964, he earned a degree in economics from Harvard University. He then got his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in finance from Harvard Business School in 1967.
After college, Roemer returned to Louisiana. He worked in his father's computer business and later started two banks. In 1972, he was chosen as a delegate for the Louisiana Constitutional Convention, which helped write the state's new constitution in 1973. His father was also involved in politics, working for Governor Edwin Edwards. Buddy Roemer helped with Edwards' campaign too.
Serving in Congress
Buddy Roemer represented Louisiana's 4th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. This district covers the northwestern part of Louisiana, including Shreveport and Bossier City.
Elections for Congress
In 1978, Roemer first ran for the 4th district congressional seat but did not win. He ran again in 1980 and won against Buddy Leach. After his victory in 1980, Roemer was re-elected to Congress without anyone running against him in 1982, 1984, and 1986.
His Time in Congress
While in Congress, Roemer often supported the policies of President Ronald Reagan. He sometimes disagreed with the Democratic leaders in Congress, even though he was a Democrat himself. He thought the Democratic House leader, Tip O'Neill, was "too liberal."
After Roemer left the House to become governor, his assistant, Jim McCrery, took his place. In 1981, Roemer was one of many Democrats who supported Reagan's tax cuts. In 1984, he again went against his party to support U.S. aid to El Salvador, calling it a "freedom-loving country."
Governor of Louisiana
1987 Election for Governor
In 1987, Roemer decided to run for governor. He was one of many Democratic candidates challenging the current governor, Edwin Edwards. Edwards was a very well-known figure in Louisiana politics.
Roemer ran a strong campaign, promising a "Roemer Revolution." He wanted to fix the state budget, improve education, and change how political campaigns were funded. A famous moment in the election was when candidates were asked if they would support Edwards in a runoff election. Roemer said, "No, we've got to slay the dragon. I would endorse anyone but Edwards." This statement helped him gain a lot of support.
On election night, Roemer came in first place. Edwards, seeing he would likely lose, surprised everyone by giving up the race. This meant Roemer became governor without a runoff election.
As Governor
Roemer became governor on March 14, 1988. One of his first big challenges was fixing a large budget problem of $1.3 billion. He worked to cut spending and change state programs. He also created the state's first inspector general position to investigate corruption and waste in government.
In 1989, voters said no to some of Roemer's tax plans. However, they did approve a change to the state constitution to help improve transportation. Roemer also focused on raising teacher salaries and making campaign finance laws stronger. He was also the first governor in a long time to prioritize protecting the environment.
During his time, Louisiana legalized a state lottery and riverboat gambling. These were new ways for the state to make money.
Changing Political Parties
In March 1991, just months before the next state elections, Roemer changed his political party. He switched from being a Democrat to a Republican. This change surprised many people in both parties.
1991 Election for Governor
In the 1991 governor's race, Roemer ran for re-election. He faced Edwin Edwards again, and also David Duke, a controversial figure. Roemer finished third in the primary election, which meant he did not make it to the runoff.
His defeat led to a runoff between David Duke and Edwin Edwards. Even though Roemer had run on an "Anyone but Edwards" platform, he chose to support Edwards in the runoff. Many people who usually disagreed with Edwards supported him to prevent Duke from winning.
After Being Governor
After leaving the governor's office, Roemer taught economics at Harvard University for a semester.
Business Career
From 1992 to 1997, Roemer worked with a friend to create The Sterling Group, Inc. This company focused on international trade of plastic materials between the United States and Mexico. Roemer was the chairman of the board.
Later, he started a company that built retirement homes near universities. He also founded Business First Bank in Baton Rouge, where he was the President and CEO.
In June 2005, Roemer had heart surgery. In 2008, he supported and campaigned for U.S. Senator John McCain for president. In 2000, Roemer was honored by being added to the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame.
In 2014, Roemer became a partner at The Young Turks, an online news network. He invested money in the company because he shared their interest in reforming how political campaigns are funded.
Running for President in 2012
In January 2011, Roemer said he was thinking about running for president in 2012. On July 21, 2011, he officially announced he would seek the Republican nomination.
A key part of his campaign was changing how political campaigns are funded. He promised to limit donations to only $100 per person. He did not accept money from large political action committees (PACs) or corporations. Because he limited donations and was not well-known, he did not get invited to the main Republican debates. He tried to reach people through social media instead.
- On November 30, 2011, Roemer announced he would also seek the Americans Elect nomination.
- On February 23, 2012, he left the Republican race to seek the Reform Party's nomination.
- On May 17, 2012, Americans Elect announced they would not have a candidate.
- On May 31, 2012, Roemer ended his presidential campaign. He said it was because he couldn't get his name on the ballot in enough states.
Personal Life and Death
Buddy Roemer was married three times. His first two marriages ended in divorce. He had three children: a daughter named Caroline and two sons named Chas and Dakota.
In 2014, Roemer had a stroke, which affected his speech. He also had type 1 diabetes. He passed away at his home in Baton Rouge on May 17, 2021, at the age of 77.
See also
In Spanish: Buddy Roemer para niños
