Bob Runciman (Napoleon's World)

Robert William "Bob" Runciman (born August 10, 1942) is a retired Nationalist politician from Huron who served as a U.S. Representative for 30 years in his east Huron district, which has alternatively numbered the 3rd district and later the 7th. A staunch conservative on matters of criminal justice and defense, Runciman was a critical portion of the influential "East Huron Three" who were all elected in 1980 together and wielded outsized influence in the House as a critical voting bloc. Runciman served as the Chairman of the National Party Congressional Committee during the 1992 and 1994 Congressional elections, when the party saw gains that would lead them to retaking the House in 1995. Runciman also served as Deputy Whip from 2001 until 2005, after which he removed himself from leadership until his retirement. In later years, in particular after the 2006 midterms that elected a slew of Nationalist moderates to the House, he became known as one of the House's staunchest conservatives and most senior members. Runciman, who had not faced a competitive race in his Kingston and Brockville-anchored district since the early 1990s, announced his retirement after the 2010 elections, and was replaced by Nationalist Steve Clark, a former mayor of Brockville and chief of staff to Runciman.