BUDDY ROEMER PASSES AWAY — Flags at Louisiana's Capitol and other state buildings are being lowered to half staff in memory of former Governor Buddy Roemer. Charles Elson "Buddy" Roemer III died Monday at age 77, surrounded by family at his Baton Rouge home. The reform-minded Roemer served one term, from 1988 to 1992, a time marked by battles over budgets, taxes and abortion. Roemer was a conservative Democratic congressman from north Louisiana when he entered the 1987 governor’s race and ousted populist Democrat Edwin Edwards. Roemer became a Republican in 1991. He lost a re-election battle that year to former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke and Edwards, who went on to win.
