Robert Bend
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Robert (Bobby) Bend (April 14, 1914-September 24, 1999) was a Manitoba politician, and was briefly the leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party (1969-1970).
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Bend was born in Poplar Point, Manitoba, the son of J.P. Bend (who unsuccessfully ran for the Manitoba legislature in 1927 and 1932 as a Conservative). The younger Bend received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba, and worked as a school principal.
[edit] Politics
In 1949, Bend was elected to the Manitoba legislature for the riding of Rockwood. The election was somewhat unusual, in that Bend ran as an "Independent Progressive Conservative" supporting the Liberal-Progressive-Progressive Conservative governing coalition, while his opponent R.A. Quickfall was an Independent Liberal opposing the government. Bend won with over two-thirds of the vote.
The Progressive Conservatives left the governing coalition in 1950, but Bend continued to support the government of Liberal-Progressive Premier Douglas Campbell. He scored an easy re-election in 1953, this time running as an "Independent Liberal-Progressive". On January 25, 1955, he was named Minister of Health and Public Welfare in the Campbell government.
[edit] Defeat and retirement
The Progressive Conservatives under Dufferin Roblin won a minority government in 1958, though Bend was again re-elected in Rockwood. The following year, however, he was defeated by Tory candidate George Hutton.
Bend remained out of active political life for the next decade. In 1969, he stood for the leadership of the Manitoba Liberal Party (as the Liberal-Progressives had renamed themselves), and scored an easily first-ballot win over his three opponents (none of whom had legislative experience).
The selection of Bend proved to be a strategic error for the party. Bend represented the rural, conservative wing of the Liberal Party, and was unable to reach an urban audience (the party's decision to use a "cowboy" theme in the 1969 campaign was little help on this front). Bend was defeated by Progressive Conservative candidate Harry Enns in the riding of Lakeside (which Campbell had previously held for 47 years). He stepped down as Liberal leader shortly thereafter, and did not seek provincial office again.
Bend subsequently returned to the education field, serving as superintendent of a rural school division. He died in 1999.
There is currently an "R.W. Bobby Bend School" in Stonewall, Manitoba.
