Buddy Roemer was sworn in as Governor of Louisiana on March 14, 1988. Prior to his election, Governor Roemer's career in public service began as an elected delegate to the Louisiana constitutional convention in 1972. In 1980, he defeated an incumbent Congressman to become Louisiana's representative from the 4th Congressional District and was re-elected three times without opposition. In Congress, Governor Roemer was a member of the House Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs Committee, the Small Business Committee and the founding and co-chairing member of the House Grace Caucus, a bipartisan group recommending cost-saving measures for the federal government. Before entering the public sector, Governor Roemer founded two banks and ran his own computer company and political consulting firm in Bossier City.