Buddy Roemer Speaks to Fusion Five on SWLA Economic Outlook

By Nancy Correro
Editor, The Times of SWLA




Fusion Five members and guests had lunch and listened to former Governor Buddy Roemer talk about the economic outlook of the Gulf South. The luncheon was held at Prien Lake Park on June 3rd.

After formal introductions by George Swift, Hal McMillin, Mayor Randy Roach, and Andrea Barcarisse, former Governor Roemer and now business man, he has several Business First Banks, one in Lake Charles on the corner of Ryan and Broad streets, gave sage advice to Fusion Five members, “The best way to compete is to cooperate.” Advice he received as a student in 1961 at Harvard. “And that is what you are doing, Five Parishes joining as one organization,” Roemer said.

Roemer talked up SWLA as having a unique position geographically to affect its progress economically, “Southwest Louisiana has a unique characteristic of being a border region and things happen in life on the border...you’re also on a corridor, the I-10 corridor...we build on a corridor.”

He talked about the vulnerability of hurricanes in this area as the only negative, but the difference between this area and New Orleans is leadership. “Nothing happens without leadership,” and Roemer went on to say, “You have produced time and time again quality leadership.” He told the Fusion Five that he looked forward to seeing what kind of leadership they produce in their generation.

Roemer wrapped up his talk with his fired-up opinions on what the now government needs to do: “I’m tired of happy talk.” He continued, “Somebody needs to tell the happy talkers in the Republican and Democratic parties enough already.”

He gave a list of what he thinks we need to do:
• “One, we need a fair trade policy.”
• “Two, we need immigration reform.”
• “Third, we need to be energy independent.”
• “Retrain for the 21st century.”
• “Finally, you and I need to get involved.”

Former Governor Roemer left the Fusion Five group with the name of the book he is reading after being asked by an audience member: The Starfish and the Spider—More sage advice from the seasoned Louisianan and Statesman.