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Line 95: − + − Baden died at the age of seventy-five, several days after having been admitted to Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria. He was on life support as a result of a fall at his home.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=thetowntalk&sParam=32326739.story|title=Former Pineville Mayor Fred Baden dies|date=December 17, 2009|publisher=content.usa.today.net|accessdate=December 18, 2009}}</ref> Services were held on December 19, 2009, at the First Baptist Church of Pineville, located across the street from Pineville City Hall. He is interred at Mt. Olivet Cemetery Pineville, also the resting place of his parents and namesake son, Fred Baden, II.<ref name=mtolivet/><ref name=obit/><ref name=fbadenjr/> + + − + − + − +
→Election campaigns
==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>
In the primary held on April 4, 1998, Baden led the four-candidate field with 1,805 votes (44 percent). Republican Leo Deslatte trailed with 1,243 ballots (31 percent). A second Democrat, Barbara B. Gypin, polled 35 votes (1 percent). The "No Party" candidate was [[attorney]] Randal Bryan "Randy" Tannehill (born 1960), son of Fred Tannehill, a wealthy businessman who served years earlier as a Democratic remember of the Louisiana State Board of Education (since renamed as the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Randal Tannehill received 977 votes (24 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns (Rapides Parish), April 4, 1998.</ref> The last campaign was bitter. In the [[general election]] on May 2, Deslatte prevailed with 2,304 votes (53 percent) to Baden's 2,062 (47 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, May 2, 1998.</ref> In 1999, Randy Tannehill ran unsuccessfully as a Republican in the District 27 state House election, having been defeated by the Democrat Rick Lamar Farrar (1960-2018).
In the primary held on April 4, 1998, Baden led the four-candidate field with 1,805 votes (44 percent). Republican Leo Deslatte trailed with 1,243 ballots (31 percent). A second Democrat, Barbara B. Gypin, polled 35 votes (1 percent). The "No Party" candidate was [[attorney]] Randal Bryan "Randy" Tannehill (born 1960), son of Fred Tannehill, a wealthy businessman who served years earlier as a Democratic remember of the Louisiana State Board of Education (since renamed as the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Randal Tannehill received 977 votes (24 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns (Rapides Parish), April 4, 1998.</ref> The last campaign was bitter. In the [[general election]] on May 2, Deslatte prevailed with 2,304 votes (53 percent) to Baden's 2,062 (47 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, May 2, 1998.</ref> In 1999, Randy Tannehill ran unsuccessfully as a Republican in the District 27 state House election, having been defeated by the Democrat Rick Lamar Farrar (1960-2018).
==Financial audit==
==City financial audit==
Mayor Deslatte invited the Louisiana legislative auditor, [[Dan Kyle]], a Republican, to inspect Pineville's municipal books. Kyle's office criticized the Baden administration for violations ranging from the illegal donation of thirty-one vehicles to other governmental entities as well as special leave benefits for Baden's wife, Roxan, when she became an employee in her husband's office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20091218/NEWS01/912180323/-1/NEWSFRONT2/7-term-Pineville-Mayor-Fred-Baden-remembered-for-big-heart|author=Bret H. McCormick|title=7-term Pineville Mayor Fred Baden remembered for 'big heart,'" December 18, 2009|publisher=''Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=December 18, 2009}}</ref>
Mayor Deslatte invited the Louisiana legislative auditor, [[Dan Kyle]], a Republican, to inspect Pineville's municipal books. Kyle's office criticized the Baden administration for violations ranging from the illegal donation of thirty-one vehicles to other governmental entities as well as special leave benefits for Baden's wife, Roxan, when she became an employee in her husband's office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20091218/NEWS01/912180323/-1/NEWSFRONT2/7-term-Pineville-Mayor-Fred-Baden-remembered-for-big-heart|author=Bret H. McCormick|title=7-term Pineville Mayor Fred Baden remembered for 'big heart,'" December 18, 2009|publisher=''Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=December 18, 2009}}</ref>
Deslatte was unable to work with the city council and resigned as mayor after less than two years into his term. He said that the political pressure was too much to make the job worth keeping. The council then appointed an [[African American]] council member, [[Clarence Fields]] as interim mayor to succeed Deslatte.<ref>''Alexandria Daily Town Talk,'' December 10, 1999.</ref> Fields, hence the first black mayor of Pineville, was then elected to a partial term in 2000,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10072000/10072000_40.html|title=Election Results|date=October 7, 2000|publisher=[[Louisiana Secretary of State]]|accessdate=July 17, 2015}}</ref> a full term in 2002 and reelected again without opposition in 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018. Baden announced that he would oppose Fields for the partial term in 2000 but subsequently withdrew from consideration,<ref name=adtt/> and George Hearn instead ran unsuccessfully for mayor that year against Fields.
Deslatte was unable to work with the city council and resigned as mayor after less than two years into his term. He said that the political pressure was too much to make the job worth keeping. The council then appointed an [[African American]] council member, [[Clarence Fields]] as interim mayor to succeed Deslatte.<ref>''Alexandria Daily Town Talk,'' December 10, 1999.</ref> Fields, hence the first black mayor of Pineville, was then elected to a partial term in 2000,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10072000/10072000_40.html|title=Election Results|date=October 7, 2000|publisher=[[Louisiana Secretary of State]]|accessdate=July 17, 2015}}</ref> a full term in 2002 and reelected again without opposition in 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018. Baden announced that he would oppose Fields for the partial term in 2000 but subsequently withdrew from consideration,<ref name=adtt/> and George Hearn instead ran unsuccessfully for mayor that year against Fields.
==Death and legacy==
==Death and legacy==
Baden died at the age of seventy-five, several days after having been admitted to Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria. He was on life support as a result of a fall at his home.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=thetowntalk&sParam=32326739.story|title=Former Pineville Mayor Fred Baden dies|date=December 17, 2009|publisher=content.usa.today.net|accessdate=December 18, 2009}}</ref> Services were held on December 19, 2009, at the First Baptist Church of Pineville, located across the street from Pineville City Hall. He is interred at Mt. Olivet Cemetery Pineville, also the resting place of his parents and namesake son, Fred Baden, II.<ref name=fbadenjr/>
When he left the office of mayor, Baden declared himself a true public servant: "What we get out of life is what we do for others. ...<ref name=obit/>"We made Pineville a city that everyone could be proud of. I would like to be remembered as a man that helped build the city that I loved. I would like to be remembered for all the accomplishments we made together as a dedicated team for the past twenty-eight years."<ref name=adtt/> He continued: "I never forgot that it was the people who put me there. They're the ones you listen to. They're the board of directors."<ref name=adtt/>
When he left the office of mayor, Baden declared himself a true public servant: "What we get out of life is what we do for others. ...<ref name=obit/>"We made Pineville a city that everyone could be proud of. I would like to be remembered as a man that helped build the city that I loved. I would like to be remembered for all the accomplishments we made together as a dedicated team for the past twenty-eight years."<ref name=adtt/> He continued: "I never forgot that it was the people who put me there. They're the ones you listen to. They're the board of directors."<ref name=adtt/>
Former city council member Jack Wainwright said that Baden was known for his kindness to others and his excellent treatment of municipal employees: "I don't know of any employee that didn't like the mayor, because he was a good man."<ref name=adtt/> Retired school principal [[Robert Cespiva]], a Democratic former council member for sixteen years, said that Baden "had a big heart, especially for senior citizens. ... He was color blind when it came to race."<ref name=adtt/>
Former city council member Jack Wainwright said that Baden was known for his kindness to others and his excellent treatment of municipal employees: "I don't know of any employee that didn't like the mayor, because he was a good man."<ref name=adtt/> Retired school principal [[Robert Cespiva]], a Democratic former council member for sixteen years, said that Baden "had a big heart, especially for senior citizens. ... He was color blind when it came to race."<ref name=adtt/>
Mayor Fields said that Baden's "prints are all over this city. He . . . cared about people and did everything he possibly could to help people. There's signs of it all over the city."<ref name=adtt/> Fields said that Pineville will honor Baden in "a great way" at some point in the future.<ref name=adtt/> He is honored with the Fred H. Baden Memorial Gateway between City Hall and [[Louisiana College]].
Mayor Fields said that Baden's "prints are all over this city. He . . . cared about people and did everything he possibly could to help people. There's signs of it all over the city."<ref name=adtt/> Fields said that Pineville will honor Baden in "a great way" at some point in the future.<ref name=adtt/> He is honored with the Fred H. Baden Memorial Gateway between City Hall and [[Louisiana College]].
On January 28, 2012, Baden, along with [[Adras LaBorde]], managing editor of the ''Alexandria Town Talk,'' was posthumously inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield. At the induction ceremony, daughter Leah Baden recalled the poem, "Don't Quit," which Baden made her and her siblings to recite. She continued: "As a child, a lot of people thought I should receive special treatment because I was the child of a politician. My dad always told me everyone should be treated the same, with kindness and respect."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20120129/NEWS01/201290325/La-Political-Hall-inducts-former-Pineville-mayor-5-others|author=Warren Hayes|title=La. Political Hall inducts former Pineville mayor, 5 others|publisher=''Alexandria Town Talk,'' January 29, 2012|accessdate=January 30, 2012}}</ref>
On January 28, 2012, Baden, along with [[Adras LaBorde]], managing editor of the ''Alexandria Town Talk,'' was posthumously inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield. At the induction ceremony, daughter Leah Baden recalled the poem, "Don't Quit," which Baden made her and her siblings to recite. She continued: "As a child, a lot of people thought I should receive special treatment because I was the child of a politician. My dad always told me everyone should be treated the same, with kindness and respect."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20120129/NEWS01/201290325/La-Political-Hall-inducts-former-Pineville-mayor-5-others|author=Warren Hayes|title=La. Political Hall inducts former Pineville mayor, 5 others|publisher=''Alexandria Town Talk,'' January 29, 2012|accessdate=January 30, 2012}}</ref>