The Role of Louisiana's Lieutenant Governor: Past, Present & Future (2011)
McLeod Lecture Series
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Details
Collection:LPB
Genre: Panel
Place Covered: Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority
Date Issued: 2011-05-22
Duration: 00:57:05
Subjects: MCNEESE STATE UNIVERSITY | Filmed panel discussions | Politics | Government | Louisiana. Office of the Lieutenant Governor | Fitzmorris, James E. (James Edward), 1921- | DARDENNE, JAY | Freeman, Robert L., 1934- | Hardy, Paul, 1942- | Schwegmann, Melinda B., 1946- | Blanco, Kathleen Babineaux, 1942- | Louisiana. Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism | Film Industry | Tourism | BP Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Oil Spill, 2010 | Museums
Contributors:
- Courtney, Beth Moderator
- Allen, Gary Director
- Fontenot, Jodie Director
- Laudun, Tika Producer
- Sanford, Shauna Reporter
- Dardenne, Jay Interviewee
- Mann, Bob Interviewee
- Fitzmorris, Jimmy Interviewee
- Freeman, Bobby Panelist
- Hardy, Paul Panelist
- Schwegmann, Melinda Panelist
- Blanco, Kathleen Panelist
Description
This episode of the “McLeod Lecture Series” from May 22, 2011, features moderator Beth Courtney leading a discussion on the role of the Lieutenant Governor in Louisiana. The panelists are four former Lieutenant Governors, Bobby Freeman (1980-1988), Paul Hardy (1988-1992), Melinda Schwegmann (1992-1996), and Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (1996-2004). They discuss: why they ran for the office; the responsibility of running the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism; their relationships with the Governors they served under; their role in meeting with international delegations; the loss of the Lieutenant Governor’s role as the presiding officer of the Senate; the development of the film industry in the state; the tourism battle between New Orleans and the rest of the state; the effect of the BP Oil Spill on tourism; their role as the keeper of Louisiana’s culture; sharing jurisdiction over the state’s museums with the Secretary of State’s Office; the possibility of eliminating the office; and the moments that stand out during their tenures. Their discussion is preceded by a background report prepared by Shauna Sanford on the history of the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, including interviews with former Lieutenant Governor Jimmy Fitzmorris (1972-1980) and current Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne. The McLeod Lecture Series event is a part of the McNeese State University Banners Series.