Collection:LPB

Genre: Debate

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1987-09-25

Duration: 01:24:24

Subjects: Elections, 1987 | Louisiana gubernatorial election, 1987 | Television debates | Politics | Roemer, Buddy | Tauzin, Billy, 1943- | Edwards, Edwin W. | Brown, James H. (James Harvey), 1945- | Livingston, Robert L., 1943- | COLLECTIVE BARGAINING | Right to strike | Teachers' unions | Political ethics | Taxes | Tax reform | Treen, David C., 1928-2009 | Education | TEACHERS | Teacher pay raises | HIGHER EDUCATION | Economy | COASTAL EROSION | Political campaigns | Campaign advertising | UNEMPLOYMENT

Contributors:

• Corrado, Kerin Photographer
• Manuel, Charles Photographer
• Simmons, Chuck Photographer
• Still, Leatus Photographer
• Fourrier, Clay Director
• Fourrier, Clay Producer
• Hinton, Robin Moderator
• Maginnis, John Interviewer
• Holden, Debra Interviewer
• Sabharwal, Vipal Interviewer
• Redman, Carl Interviewer
• Leggett, Jim Interviewer
• Roemer, Buddy Panelist
• Tauzin, Billy Panelist
• Edwards, Edwin Panelist
• Brown, Jim Panelist
• Livingston, Bob Panelist

A live debate held on September 25, 1987, in Baton Rouge between the top five gubernatorial candidates, Congressman Buddy Roemer, Congressman Billy Tauzin, Governor Edwin Edwards, Secretary of State Jim Brown, and Congressman Bob Livingston. The debate was moderated by Robin Hinton 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: Excluding the Bible, from which book or author have you accumulated the most wisdom? For the second round, the candidates were asked questions by a panel of four capitol reporters and one college student: John Maginnis of Gris Gris Magazine; Debra Holden of the Louisiana Network; LSU Student Vipal Sabharwal; Carl Redman of the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate; and Jim Leggett of the Alexandria Town Talk. During the third round, the candidates were allowed to ask questions of each other. The questions for both rounds were related to the following topics: collective bargaining rights for teachers and the right to strike for public employees; the people’s trust in government; tax reform; overcoming the difficulties faced by former Governor Dave Treen; improving the quality of education and teachers; encouraging college graduates to stay and work in the state; restructuring higher education; holding Governor Treen accountable for his role in the state’s current economic situation; the strengths and weaknesses of Governor Edwards’ third term in office; providing services for the poor and elderly; using money from a tax on oil and gas for the fight against coastal erosion; the use of negative campaign advertisements; and the unemployment rate. The debate ended with the candidates’ closing statements.