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As a councilman, Baden often clashed with Mayor [[Floyd Smith]], a fellow Democrat and a member of the [[Huey Long|Long]] political dynasty who did not seek a second term but instead ran successfully in 1970 for councilman at-large, a position that he soon vacated in order to run, unsuccessfully, for state senator against the incumbent [[Cecil R. Blair]]. Smith was elected mayor in 1966, when he upset fellow Democrat [[Elmo Futrell|P. Elmo Futrell, Jr.]], a Pineville [[real estate]] appraiser.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/85144493/|title=Municipal; Election Returns Cited|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|date=April 9, 1962|page=5|accessdate=July 16, 2015}}</ref>​

As a councilman, Baden often clashed with Mayor [[Floyd Smith]], a fellow Democrat and a member of the [[Huey Long|Long]] political dynasty who did not seek a second term but instead ran successfully in 1970 for councilman at-large, a position that he soon vacated in order to run, unsuccessfully, for state senator against the incumbent [[Cecil R. Blair]]. Smith was elected mayor in 1966, when he upset fellow Democrat [[Elmo Futrell|P. Elmo Futrell, Jr.]], a Pineville [[real estate]] appraiser.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/85144493/|title=Municipal; Election Returns Cited|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|date=April 9, 1962|page=5|accessdate=July 16, 2015}}</ref>​

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A [[Southern Baptist]], Baden was particularly known for his opposition to the sale of [[alcohol]]ic beverages in historically [[prohibitionist]] Pineville, the home of [[Louisiana College]]. He once closed Buhlow Lake in Pineville to boat races because of alcohol consumption on the premises.<ref>''The Alexandria Town Talk,'' May 25, 1979.</ref>​

A [[Southern Baptist]], Baden was particularly known for his opposition to the sale of [[alcohol]]ic beverages in historically prohibitionist Pineville, the home of Baptist-affiliated [[Louisiana College]]. He once closed Buhlow Lake in Pineville to boat races because of alcohol consumption on the premises.<ref>''The Alexandria Town Talk,'' May 25, 1979.</ref>​

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During Baden's tenure, Pineville constructed a municipal center that houses City Hall, the police department, municipal court, and a central fire station located behind the complex. Pineville also built additional fire stations, a recreation center, and expanded and improved its streets. Baden and the city council worked to develop an apartment complex for the elderly located on Louisiana Highway 28 East. He and the late [[U.S. Representative]] [[Gillis Long]] of Louisiana's since disbanded 8th congressional district moved to purchase the former Pineville Post Office on Main Street for use as a senor citizens center.<ref name=obit/> Baden, as mayor, often did free plumbing work for disadvantaged senior citizens.<ref name=adtt>Bret H. McCormick, "7-term Pineville Mayor Fred Baden remembered for 'big heart,'" ''Alexandria Town Talk,'' December 18, 2009.</ref>​

During Baden's tenure, Pineville constructed a municipal center that houses City Hall, the police department, municipal court, and a central fire station located behind the complex. Pineville also built additional fire stations, a recreation center, and expanded and improved its streets. Baden and the city council worked to develop an apartment complex for the elderly located on Louisiana Highway 28 East. He and the late [[U.S. Representative]] [[Gillis Long]] of Louisiana's since disbanded 8th congressional district moved to purchase the former Pineville Post Office on Main Street for use as a senor citizens center.<ref name=obit/> Baden, as mayor, often did free plumbing work for disadvantaged senior citizens.<ref name=adtt>Bret H. McCormick, "7-term Pineville Mayor Fred Baden remembered for 'big heart,'" ''Alexandria Town Talk,'' December 18, 2009.</ref>​