Collection:LPB

Genre: Debate

Place Covered: Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1995-10-04

Duration: 00:58:43

Subjects: Television debates | Elections, 1995 | Louisiana gubernatorial election, 1995 | Politics | Government | COUNCIL FOR A BETTER LOUISIANA | PREIS, PHIL | Roemer, Buddy | Landrieu, Mary, 1955- | Adley, Robert R. | Fields, Cleo | Schwegmann, Melinda B., 1946- | HIGHER EDUCATION | COMMUNITY COLLEGES | Gambling | Race | O.J. Simpson murder case | STATE BUDGET | Drugs | Crime | PARDONS

Contributors:

• Collins, Robert Moderator
• Allen, Gary Producer
• Anderson, Ed Interviewer
• Leggett, Jim Interviewer
• Duhe, Jeff Interviewer
• Preis, Phil Panelist
• Roemer, Buddy Panelist
• Landrieu, Mary Panelist
• Adley, Robert Panelist
• Fields, Cleo Panelist
• Schwegmann, Melinda Panelist

Robert Collins moderates the second part of a live debate at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches on October 4, 1995, between six candidates for Governor: Baton Rouge attorney Phil Preis (D); former Governor Buddy Roemer (R); State Treasurer Mary Landrieu (D); State Representative Robert Adley (D); Congressman Cleo Fields (D); and Lieutenant Governor Melinda Schwegmann (D). State Senator Mike Foster was invited to participate, but could not attend. The Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL) sponsored this debate as a part of its voter awareness project, “The People’s Agenda.” The debate consists of four rounds of questions. The first two rounds are available in the first part of this debate. For the third round of questions, a panel of journalists, Ed Anderson of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Jim Leggett of the Alexandria Daily Town Talk, and Jeff Duhe of LPB, ask all of the candidates questions on the following topics: building and funding a stronger community college system; supporting a constitutional amendment to abolish all forms of gambling in the state; and their view of the racial divisions in the state in the wake of the O.J. Simpson verdict. For the fourth round, each candidate asks another candidate a question. Their questions cover the following topics: race relations in the wake of the O.J. Simpson verdict; the growth of the state budget; hiring an employee with no experience; appointing people from outside of Louisiana to cabinet positions; using the National Guard and State Police to fight drugs and crime; and Roemer’s history of granting pardons. The debate ends with each candidate’s closing statement.