Debate 1991: The Governor's Race, No. 1

A live debate held on September 27, 1991, in Baton Rouge between six gubernatorial candidates: Governor Buddy Roemer (R); Mayor Sam Jones of Franklin (D); Fred Dent (D), the former Commissioner of Financial Institutions; State Representative David Duke (R); former Governor Edwin Edwards (D); and Congressman Clyde Holloway (R). The debate was moderated by Robert Collins of Louisiana Public Broadcasting and featured three rounds of questions. For the first round, the candidates answered a question they were given prior to the debate, in lieu of an opening statement: Other than a relative, what contemporary figure do you admire or has leadership qualities you could emulate? For the second round, the candidates were asked questions by a panel of five capitol reporters: Jack Wardlaw of the New Orleans Times-Picayune; John Hill of the Shreveport Times and Monroe News Star; Karen Nachman of Louisiana Public Broadcasting; Carl Redman of the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate and State Times; and Chevel Johnson of the Associated Press. Their questions were related to the following topics: solutions for the budget shortfall; teacher evaluations; abortion for rape victims; the legalization of dog racing and casino gambling; environmental standards for air pollution; leadership; job creation; who they would vote for if they weren’t on the ballot; regulating the environment through industrial tax breaks; and crime. During the third round, each candidate was able to ask one question of another candidate: Jones to Holloway: Why wouldn't you let the public vote on the abortion amendment and put it into the constitution?; Duke to Jones: Are you an NAACP member and do you agree with affirmative action and quotas?; Edwards to Roemer: Why should you be believed after not fulfilling your campaign promises of the last election?; Roemer to Edwards: What would you say now to the young people that were leaving the state of Louisiana for jobs?; Holloway to Dent: Why did you leave the Roemer administration?; and Dent to Duke: What would you do specifically to improve the image of Louisiana and how would you overcome your negative baggage? The debate ended with the closing statement from each candidate.