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Buddy Roemer on Principles & Values
Former Governor (R-LA); frontrunner for AmericansElect presidential nomination
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Served four terms in Congress, 1981-1988
Gov. Roemer served four terms in the US Congress from 1981-1988 as a conservative Democrat who often broke ranks with his party to vote with President Reagan, and was Louisiana Governor from 1988-1992 as both a Democrat and Republican. During his tenure
in the Governor's office, unemployment in the state dropped by approximately half, the state budget was balanced all years despite inheriting a huge deficit, government unions were challenged, and sweeping campaign finance reform legislation was passed.
Source: Exploratory Committee website, www.buddyroemer.com, "About"
, Jun 12, 2011
Founder & CEO of Business First Bank
Since leaving public office, Gov. Roemer has been involved in a number of business ventures. Most recently, he served as the founder, CEO, and President of Business First Bank, a small business community bank with approximately $650 million in assets
that took no bailout money from the federal government. Gov. Roemer lives in Baton Rouge with his wife Scarlett, and is the father of three children. He received his undergraduate degree from Harvard College and his MBA from Harvard Business School.
Source: Exploratory Committee website, www.buddyroemer.com, "About"
, Jun 12, 2011
Driving across SC and NH to shake hands & start listening
Roemer issued a statement saying he was disappointed with Fox's decision to bar him from the S.C. debate:"My campaign pledge is to carry out politics in a new way--one that doesn't allow PAC money or large donations from multinational corporations.
As such, we haven't spent time traveling across the nation introducing myself to voters. Rather, I've taken an approach of driving through South Carolina and New Hampshire to shake hands and start listening.
In order to be free to lead, our office
holders should not be held hostage by the influence of money. That's why I've imposed a cap on contributions. I refuse to buy my way to 1% recognition [Fox News' threshold for inclusion in the SC debate]--I have to earn it. But, it sure becomes a
self-fulfilling prophesy when the media will only legitimize my candidacy because of some arbitrary threshold of public recognition.
I will record my answers to the debate questions in real time and post them on my web site at www.buddyroemer.com."
Source: 2011 GOP primary debate in South Carolina
, May 5, 2011
Placed third in 1991 re-election bid
Roemer made a splash more than two decades ago in the Louisiana governor's race with his "slay the dragon" cry, defeating an incumbent snared in corruption investigations. Four years later, Roemer made an ignominious exit from the governor's mansion when
in a bid for re-election, he came in behind David Duke, a former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard. Mr. Roemer, who switched from the Democratic to the Republican party while governor, made one more failed run in 1995, then retreated to the private sector.
Source: The Wall Street Journal, "Longshot from Louisiana"
, Mar 16, 2011
Publicly described himself as "a church-going Methodist boy"
Roemer described himself at the forum as "a church-going Methodist boy" and added a fervent "thank you, Jesus" when he recounted meeting his third wife, a church pianist. Roemer talks proudly of his successes in Louisiana: overhauling campaign-finance
laws, strengthening environmental protection, testing teachers for competency and balancing the state budget. But he also gained a reputation in the state as arrogant and aloof. "He wouldn't return calls. To anybody," said one state Senator.
Source: The Wall Street Journal, "Longshot from Louisiana"
, Mar 16, 2011
Page last updated: May 31, 2012