Bob Lessard

{{Short description|American politician}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Bob Lessard

|image =

|state_senate = Minnesota

|district = 3rd

|term_start = January 4, 1977

|term_end = January 6, 2003

|predecessor = Norbert P. Arnold

|successor = Tom Saxhaug

|birth_name =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1931|5|18}}

|birth_place = International Falls, Minnesota, U.S.

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = Democratic (DFL)

|otherparty = Independence

|occupation = cruise operator

|spouse =

|children =

|relations =

|residence =

|alma_mater =

}}

Robert B. Lessard (born May 18, 1931) is an American former politician in the state of Minnesota. He was born in International Falls, Minnesota and was a cruise company operator. Lessard is also a veteran of the Korean War. He was a Minnesota state senator from District 3 from 1977 to 2002.{{cite web|url=http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.aspx?ID=10372|title=Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Lessard|publisher=|accessdate=24 December 2014}} He has three children.{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/3907/bob-lessard#.VJstR8ACA|title=Project Vote Smart - The Voter's Self Defense System|work=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=25 December 2014}}

Nicknamed "The Old Trapper", Lessard ran for Attorney General of Minnesota in the 2018 election as a Republican.{{cite news |last1=Beager |first1=Laurel |title='The Old Trapper' seeks state's top legal post |url=http://www.ifallsjournal.com/news/local/the-old-trapper-seeks-state-s-top-legal-post/article_4724f82a-3276-5d6d-a150-89c2da687643.html |accessdate=June 17, 2018 |work=International Falls Journal |publisher=Big Fish Media |date=June 12, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=January 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115020221/https://www.ifallsjournal.com/news/local/the-old-trapper-seeks-state-s-top-legal-post/article_4724f82a-3276-5d6d-a150-89c2da687643.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |last1=Featherly |first1=Kevin |title=Bob Lessard runs for attorney general to protect Legacy funds |url=https://minnlawyer.com/2018/07/27/bob-lessard-runs-for-attorney-general-to-protect-legacy-funds/ |accessdate=July 29, 2018 |work=Minnesota Lawyer |publisher=BridgeTower Media |date=July 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730050338/https://minnlawyer.com/2018/07/27/bob-lessard-runs-for-attorney-general-to-protect-legacy-funds/ |archive-date=2018-07-30 |url-status=live }}https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=838815 It was noted that Lessard was not an attorney, raised hardly any money and had spent decades as a DFLer. Lessard stated that he was running to protect the state's Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, which he said Republicans were determined to repeal.{{cite news |last1=Salisbury |first1=Bill |title=Former Rep. Wardlow faces longtime DFLer in Minnesota attorney general primary |url=https://www.twincities.com/2018/08/09/minnesota-attorney-generals-race-here-are-the-2-gop-candidates/ |accessdate=August 9, 2018 |work=Pioneer Press |date=August 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810072559/https://www.twincities.com/2018/08/09/minnesota-attorney-generals-race-here-are-the-2-gop-candidates/ |archive-date=2018-08-10 |url-status=live }} He came third in the primary election with 63,722 votes (21.7%).