David Slagger facts for kids

David Slagger was born on June 22, 1962. He is a Maliseet leader and politician from Maine. He served in the Maine House of Representatives. This is where laws are made for the state of Maine.

David Slagger represented the Maliseet Tribe. This tribe was newly recognized at the time. He started his role as a representative on January 4, 2012. This was a temporary position. It allowed the tribe time to hold its own election. On December 22, 2012, the Maliseet Tribe elected Henry John Bear. He became their first elected Tribal Representative. David Slagger did not try to get re-elected for this role.

David Slagger was one of three representatives from Maine's Native American tribes. These representatives did not have a vote in the House. Tribal members elect their own representatives.

Slagger decided not to seek another term. This was because tribal representatives had certain limits. For example, they could not vote on bills. They also could not suggest new laws without help from other lawmakers. Once, during a close vote, David Slagger's vote was not counted. This made him feel that his role was not fully respected. In May 2012, Slagger decided to run for a different seat. This was for District 22, where he lived. He ran as an independent candidate. He challenged the person already in office, Stacy Guerin. He did not win this election.

What is a Governor?

A Governor is the leader of a state. They are like the president of a state. They help make sure laws are followed. They also lead the state government.

Running for Governor of Maine

In February 2013, David Slagger thought about running for Governor of Maine. This election was planned for 2014. He first planned to run as a Democrat. Later, in April, he joined the Green Independent Party. He hoped to get their support. But soon after, he left that party too. He continued his campaign as an independent candidate. However, David Slagger did not get enough support. He could not get his name on the ballot for the November 2014 election.

About David Slagger's Life

David Slagger grew up in Aroostook County, Maine. Today, he lives in Kenduskeag. This town is in Penobscot County. He lives there with his wife. She is from the Mi'kmaq tribe. They have three children.

In September 2005, David Slagger was a student at the University of Maine. He got a special chance to work at the Smithsonian Institution. This was at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. This museum teaches people about Native American cultures. When he became a representative in 2012, David Slagger was still studying. He was working towards a very advanced degree at the University of Maine.