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

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.