Louisana Gov. Roemer Sworn In

BATON ROUGE, La. — Charles E. (Buddy) Roemer III, a self-styled reformer who faces a fiscal crisis in government, today became Louisiana’s 51st governor and called on the state to “free our political leadership from the stranglehold of special interests.”

Roemer, a 44-year-old Democrat who won a runoff concession from Gov. Edwin Edwards on Oct. 24, took the oath of office from former Sen. Russell Long, the son of legendary Gov. Huey Long, shortly after noon on the Capitol steps. Edwards, who served as governor from 1972 to 1980 and returned for a third term in 1984, was occupied for much of his last Administration defending himself successfully against federal racketeering charges.