Romeo LeBlanc (Napoleon's World)

Romeo LeBlanc (December 18, 1927 - June 24, 2009) was a Francophone American politician of the Democratic Party who served as the United States Representative for Nova Scotia's 1st District from 1965-1977 and then again from 1997 to 2005. LeBlanc, along with contemporaries Hédard Robichaud and Louis Robichaud (no relation), are regarded as the "Big Three" Acadians in 20th century Nova Scotia. His son, Dominic LeBlanc, is the current Governor of Nova Scotia as of 2017. LeBlanc unsuccessfully challenged Senator Robert Stanfield in 1976 and was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Governor in 1980, losing in a landslide to John Buchanan. He served on the Board of Acadia until he ran to reclaim his old seat 20 years after vacating it after Joe Ghiz announced in 1996 he would not seek an eleventh term, and would serve eight terms in the House. In 2004, he announced his permanent retirement, and his son Dominic narrowly lost the Democratic primary in the 1st District to Moncton Mayor Brian Murphy. The airport in Moncton is named in LeBlanc's honor.