Backbencher goes to front of local record book

Bob Wood calls himself one of the most common guys in the House of Commons.

But the long-time Nipissing MP has just broken a record for serving an uncommonly long amount of time in parliament.

Wood became the longest-serving MP in Nipissing’s history Tuesday, breaking the record that belonged to another Liberal, Joseph Hurtubise.

First elected July 28, 1930, Hurtubise represented Nipissing for three consecutive terms until his retirement June 11, 1945.

Worked hard for confidence

“I checked with people in Ottawa and the average term length of MPs is six to eight years,” Wood said, “so I’m pretty long in the tooth that way.”

Wood, a former radio morning man, was elected Nov. 21, 1988, beating Progressive Conservative MP Moe Mantha.

"It’s an honour and a privilege to have committed nearly 15 years to the House of Commons, representing the people of Nipissing,” Wood said.

“I’ve worked very hard to maintain the confidence the public has placed in me.”

Rejuvenate the party

Ironically Wood ran for the Liberals almost by default.

“In 1988 I was asked to run and I turned it down, but accepted when I was asked again,” Wood said.

“I went around to other prominent Liberals in town offering to pull out if they wanted to run instead of me, but they all told me to go ahead and run and rejuvenate the party.”

Behind 500 votes

Wood and his campaign managers Mike Barkwell and Bill Sangster developed a campaigning strategy.

“I would go out as if I was 500 votes behind, so I’d talk to somebody and think ‘oh, I’ve got to get his vote, I’m 500 votes behind,'” Wood said.

No delusions

“And then I ended up beating Moe by 485 votes. Scary, huh?”
A career backbencher, Wood, 63, said his lack of elevation hasn’t bothered him at all.

“I don't have any letters beside my name, I didn’t come in with any delusions of grandeur or anything like that so I’m not disappointed. I didn’t ever see myself in that position, and I’m not a guy to do a lot of cozying up to anybody, so I didn’t do a lot of that, so if you don’t do those things you better be content to do this.”