Buddy Roemer

Charles Elson "Buddy" Roemer III (October 4, 1943 – May 17, 2021) was an American politician and banker. He served as the 52nd Governor of Louisiana from 1988 to 1992. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1981 to 1988.

The Honorable 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 (1943-10-04)October 4, 1943 Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	May 17, 2021(2021-05-17) (aged 77) Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
Cause of death	Problems caused by diabetes
Political party	Republican (1991–2012, 2013–2021)
Other political affiliations	Democratic (Before 1991) Reform (2012–2013)
Spouse(s)	Frances "Cookie" Demler (Divorced) Patti Crocker (Divorced) Scarlett Roemer[1]
Children	Caroline Roemer Shirley (with Cookie) Chas Roemer (with Cookie) Dakota Frost Roemer (with Patti)
Alma mater	Harvard University

Roemer was a candidate for the presidential nominations of the Republican Party^[2] and the Reform Party^[3] in 2012.

In March 1991, while serving as governor, Roemer switched his party from the Democratic to the Republican Party.^[4] In 2012, he became a member of the Reform Party. A year later, Roemer switched parties to become a Republican again.

Early life

Roemer was born in Shreveport, Louisiana.^[5] His parents were Charles Elson "Budgie" Roemer, II and Adeline McDade.^[5] He was raised in Bossier City.^[6]

In 1964, he graduated from Harvard College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics. In 1967, he received an MBA in finance from Harvard Business School.^[6] After college, Roemer returned to Louisiana to work in his father’s computer business and later founded two banks. He was elected in 1972 as a delegate to the Louisiana Constitutional Convention held in 1973.^[7]

U.S. House of Representatives (1981-1988)

As a member of Congress, Roemer Louisiana's 1st congressional district in the northwestern section of the state, anchored about Shreveport and Bossier City. After his 1980 election victory, Roemer won congressional re-election without opposition in 1982, 1984, and 1986.

In Congress, Roemer frequently supported Reagan policy initiatives and fought with the Democratic congressional leadership,^[6] though he remained in the party. He also criticized then Democratic House leader Tip O'Neill of Massachusetts for being "too liberal".^[8]

After Roemer left the House to become governor, he was succeeded by his administrative assistant, Republican Jim McCrery.

Governor of Louisiana (1988-1992)

Roemer speaking at a John McCain presidential rally in Louisiana, June 2008

Roemer was one of a large number of Democratic candidates to challenge three-term incumbent governor Edwin Edwards. Roemer won the election by winning 33% of the vote compared to Edwards' 28%.

Roemer entered the governor's office on March 14, 1988. In October 1989, voters rejected a number of Roemer tax initiatives but approved a constitutional amendment for transportation improvements.^[9] Facing a $1.3 billion deficit in the state budget, his first job was eliminating the deficit. Roemer called a special session of the legislature to push an ambitious tax and fiscal reform program for state and local governments. He vowed to slash spending, abolish programs, and close state-run institutions. Voters rejected his proposals in a statewide constitutional referendum.

In March 1991, Roemer switched to the Republican Party just months before the state elections,^[10] apparently at the urging of Bush White House Chief of Staff John H. Sununu. Roemer lost his re-election after loosing the Republican primary to David Duke. Duke would soon loose to Edwin Edwards.

Roemer left office on January 13, 1992. He would run again for the Republican nomination for governor, but lost to Mike Foster.

2004 U.S. Senate election

In the summer of 2004, Roemer briefly considered entering the race to succeed retiring U.S. Senator John Breaux. Roemer shortly after decided not to run for the senate.

2012 presidential campaign

Roemer speaking at a Reform Party campaign in New Jersey, December 2011

Main article: Buddy Roemer presidential campaign, 2012

In January 2011, Roemer told Baton Rouge television station WAFB that he was considering a bid for the U.S. presidency in 2012.^[11][12][13] On July 21, 2011 at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, Roemer announced his entry as a candidate for the Republican nomination for President. On November 30, 2011, Roemer officially announced that he would seek the Americans Elect nomination.^[14][15] On February 23, 2012, Roemer dropped out of the GOP nomination to seek the Reform Party's nomination.^[16] On May 17, 2012, Americans Elect announced that it would not run a candidate in the 2012 presidential elections.

On May 31, 2012, he announced that he was ending his 2012 presidential campaign altogether, citing the lack of ballot access to be the reason^[3]

Personal life

Roemer was married to Cookie Delmer until they divorced. Then he married Patti Crocker until they divorced. He was married Scarlett Roemer. Roemer had three children with Delmer.

Roemer died at his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana from problems caused by diabetes, aged 77.^[17]