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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 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>​

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>​

 

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>​

 

Despite the improvements, the Pineville population remained relatively constant during his 28-year tenure as mayor—in the range of 12,000 to 13,000. Much of the area growth occurred outside the city limits.​

Despite the improvements, the Pineville population remained relatively constant during his 28-year tenure as mayor—in the range of 12,000 to 13,000. Much of the area growth occurred outside the city limits.​

 

Baden was an original member of the Rapides Area Planning Commission and served on the [[Salvation Army]] Board, the Louisiana College Board of Development, and the Rapides Parish Solid Waste Committee. He was also active in the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce, the Rapides Senior Citizens Board, the Renaissance Board for Youth, and the Louisiana Municipal Association, of which he served three terms as vice president. Baden received the Hometown Leadership Award which recognizes elected local officials for exemplary leadership. He was honored with the Distinguished Service Award by the Louisiana College trustees. The Louisiana National Guard presented him with its "Commendation Award".<ref name=obit/> In 2001, the Rapides Parish Police Jury [county commission in other states] appointed Baden to fill an unexpired term on the Esler Industrial Development Area Advisory Board. The appointment ended on January 8, 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rppj.com/081301.htm|title=Rapides Parish Police Jury|publisher=rppj.com|accessdate=December 18, 2009}}</ref>​

Baden was an original member of the Rapides Area Planning Commission and served on the [[Salvation Army]] Board, the Louisiana College Board of Development, and the Rapides Parish Solid Waste Committee. He was also active in the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce, the Rapides Senior Citizens Board, the Renaissance Board for Youth, and the Louisiana Municipal Association, of which he served three terms as vice president. Baden received the Hometown Leadership Award which recognizes elected local officials for exemplary leadership. He was honored with the Distinguished Service Award by the Louisiana College trustees. The Louisiana National Guard presented him with its "Commendation Award".<ref name=obit/> In 2001, the Rapides Parish Police Jury [county commission in other states] appointed Baden to fill an unexpired term on the Esler Industrial Development Area Advisory Board. The appointment ended on January 8, 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rppj.com/081301.htm|title=Rapides Parish Police Jury|publisher=rppj.com|accessdate=December 18, 2009}}</ref>​

 

Baden worked with [[L. B. Henry]] of Pineville, long-term police jury president, in upgrading the [[infrastructure]] and procuring sewerage service to the outlying Wardville and Lee Heights areas. Baden and Henry also came to terms for the establishment of an animal shelter for both Pineville and the parish. Like Baden, Henry was a plumber by trade.<ref>"L.B. Henry was known for helping other people," ''Alexandria Town Talk,'' April 15, 2008.</ref>​

Baden worked with [[L. B. Henry]] of Pineville, long-term police jury president, in upgrading the [[infrastructure]] and procuring sewerage service to the outlying Wardville and Lee Heights areas. Baden and Henry also came to terms for the establishment of an animal shelter for both Pineville and the parish. Like Baden, Henry was a plumber by trade.<ref>"L.B. Henry was known for helping other people," ''Alexandria Town Talk,'' April 15, 2008.</ref>​

 

Among the many city council members during the Baden years was the Louisiana College psychology professor [[George Hearn]], a Democrat, and Christian D. Cunningham, a Republican who defeated Hearn for reelection in 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thetowntalk/obituary.aspx?n=george-earl-hearn&pid=145331127|title=''Alexandria Town Talk'|date=September 14, 2010|accessdate=September 23, 2010}}</ref>​

Among the many city council members during the Baden years was the Louisiana College psychology professor [[George Hearn]], a Democrat, and Christian D. Cunningham, a Republican who defeated Hearn for reelection in 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thetowntalk/obituary.aspx?n=george-earl-hearn&pid=145331127|title=''Alexandria Town Talk'|date=September 14, 2010|accessdate=September 23, 2010}}</ref>

 

In 1989, Baden spoke out on the state level when he questioned the financial policies undertaken by Governor [[Buddy Roemer]]. At the time voters had just rejected a tax reform package submitted by Roemer. Baden said that average citizens of modest means "see waste and fat [in government]. They tell me they feel betrayed." Baden proposed that serious budget cuts be undertaken at the state level before any discussion of higher taxes be contemplated. He noted that Roemer had promised huge cuts in the education bureaucracy in the capital city of [[Baton Rouge]] which never materialized.<ref>"Mayor says 'betrayal by Roemer' was reason for tax reform failure," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' May 11, 1989, p. 1.</ref>​

In 1989, Baden spoke out on the state level when he questioned the financial policies undertaken by Governor [[Buddy Roemer]]. At the time voters had just rejected a tax reform package submitted by Roemer. Baden said that average citizens of modest means "see waste and fat [in government]. They tell me they feel betrayed." Baden proposed that serious budget cuts be undertaken at the state level before any discussion of higher taxes be contemplated. He noted that Roemer had promised huge cuts in the education bureaucracy in the capital city of [[Baton Rouge]] which never materialized.<ref>"Mayor says 'betrayal by Roemer' was reason for tax reform failure," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' May 11, 1989, p. 1.</ref>​

 

==Election campaigns==​

==Election campaigns==

In 1974, Baden made prohibition a key issue when he won his second term by a large margin over Rapides Parish School Board member Gary K. Hays (1938–1981). Baden continued to be reelected with few obstacles in 1978, 1982, 1986, and 1990. His last victory was in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held on March 26, 1994, when he polled 2,449 votes (69 percent) to 1,075 (30 percent) for Republican Chris Cunningham, and 31 votes (1 percent) for another Democrat, Nick Patten.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Municipal election returns, March 26, 1994.</ref> Patten blamed his weak showing on the alleged theft of his campaign signs by Baden supporters. "It's just a terrible thing that you can't run a legitimate election in Pineville," Patten said. Baden retorted that some of his own signs had vanished as well.<ref>"Candidate files complaint; Says campaign signs disappearing," ''Alexandria Daily Town Talk,'' December 2, 1993, p. D-2.</ref>​

In 1974, Baden made prohibition a key issue when he won his second term by a large margin over Rapides Parish School Board member Gary K. Hays (1938–1981). Baden continued to be reelected with few obstacles in 1978, 1982, 1986, and 1990. His last victory was in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held on March 26, 1994, when he polled 2,449 votes (69 percent) to 1,075 (30 percent) for Republican Chris Cunningham, and 31 votes (1 percent) for another Democrat, Nick Patten.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Municipal election returns, March 26, 1994.</ref> Patten blamed his weak showing on the alleged theft of his campaign signs by Baden supporters. "It's just a terrible thing that you can't run a legitimate election in Pineville," Patten said. Baden retorted that some of his own signs had vanished as well.<ref>"Candidate files complaint; Says campaign signs disappearing," ''Alexandria Daily Town Talk,'' December 2, 1993, p. D-2.</ref>​

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