Collection:LPB

Genre: Debate

Place Covered: Hammond, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority, Southeastern Louisiana Universiy

Date Issued: 1995-09-25

Duration: 00:58:30

Subjects: Television debates | Elections, 1995 | Louisiana gubernatorial election, 1995 | Foster, Mike, Jr., 1930- | Adley, Robert R. | Schwegmann, Melinda B., 1946- | Fields, Cleo | Landrieu, Mary, 1955- | PREIS, PHIL | Politics | Government | Education | HIGHER EDUCATION | Southeastern Louisiana University | Louisiana. State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education | Teacher pay raises | Educational accountability

Contributors:

• Matheny, Tom Moderator
• Clausen, Sally Speaker
• Redman, Carl Interviewer
• Smith, Kenya Interviewer
• Golsby, Marsanne Interviewer
• Griffin, Lee Interviewer
• Sanders, Mary Ellis Interviewer
• Bussie, Victor Interviewer
• Hart, Veronica Interviewer
• Foster, Mike Panelist
• Adley, Robert Panelist
• Schwegmann, Melinda Panelist
• Fields, Cleo Panelist
• Landrieu, Mary Panelist
• Preis, Phil Panelist

Tom Matheny moderates the first part of a live debate on education at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond on September 25, 1995, between six candidates for Governor: State Senator Mike Foster (R); State Representative Robert Adley (D); Lieutenant Governor Melinda Schwegmann (D); Congressman Cleo Fields (D); State Treasurer Mary Landrieu (D); and Baton Rouge businessman Phil Preis (D). Former Governor Buddy Roemer was invited, but could not attend. Dr. Sally Clausen, the president of Southeastern Louisiana University, speaks before the debate and introduces the panel of journalists and citizens who will ask some of the questions: Carl Redman of the Baton Rouge Advocate; Kenya Smith, the student government president at Southern University in New Orleans; Marsanne Golsby of WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge; Lee Griffin, the president of Premier Bank Corporation; Dr. Mary Ellis Sanders of the Board of Regents; Victor Bussie, the president of the Louisiana AFL-CIO; and Veronica Hart, the 1994 Teacher of the Year in Louisiana. The debate begins with the opening statement of each candidate. The moderator and panelists then ask the candidates questions on the following topics: abolishing the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE); school accountability and site-based management; increasing the funding for higher education; eliminating duplicate programs at colleges and universities; and raising teacher salaries.