Buddy Roemer
Charles Elson "Buddy" Roemer III (October 4, 1943 – May 17, 2021) was an American politician, investor, and banker who served as the 52nd governor of Louisiana from 1988 to 1992, and as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1981 to 1988. In March 1991, while serving as governor, Roemer switched affiliation from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.
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) |
Roemer was a candidate for the presidential nominations of the Republican Party and the Reform Party in 2012. He withdrew from those contests and sought the 2012 Americans Elect presidential nomination until that group announced it would not field a candidate in 2012 because no candidate reached the required minimum threshold of support to be listed on its ballot. Roemer eventually endorsed Libertarian Gary Johnson, former governor of New Mexico, for president in the 2012 general election.
Roemer served on the Advisory Council of Represent.Us, a nonpartisan anti-corruption organization.