Frederick W. Plaisted

Frederick W. Plaisted was born in Bangor, Maine, in 1865. He succeeded his father as publisher and editor of *The New Age* newspaper in Augusta and later served on the staff of the national commander of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Plaisted held various political roles, including serving as mayor of Augusta and as Kennebec County sheriff. He also served as the 48th governor of Maine and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.

Frederick W. Plaisted's political identity is marked by a blend of progressive local governance and controversial eugenics-driven policies. His tenure as mayor and governor of Maine saw him propose progressive local option policies on alcohol sales, yet his administration also forcibly evicted a mixed-race community from Malaga Island, revealing a troubling racial ideology. Plaisted's rhetorical style juxtaposes appeals to local autonomy with exclusionary practices, prompting questions about the consistency of his principles.