Exiting mayor shared, drew firm opinions

Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Nov 7, 2005 by DEEDEE CORRELL THE GAZETTE

FOUNTAIN - This is the quote no one's forgotten:

"I'm the frickin' mayor," Ken Barela pronounced in an interview with The Gazette two years ago.

He was talking about his ability to effect change, and the first part of the quote was: "When I hear someone tell me I can't do that, I tell them, 'Get out of here, man.'"

Some seized on the comment as proof of Barela's arrogance; to this day, they remember it word for word.

But for eight years, Barela has been the frickin' mayor -- never a shrinking violet, never one to remain quiet about his opinions and vision.

To his supporters, he's the mayor who ushered in dramatic changes, beautifying the city and chipping away at a marred reputation.

His foes will remember him as the man who pushed for a controversial rezoning, one who was always too quick to claim the credit that should be shared with others.

Either way, Barela -- who turns the gavel over to Mayor-elect Jeri Howells Tuesday night -- has not been a figure anyone could ignore.

"If you're truly a leader, you're not always going to make decisions everyone will be happy with. I wasn't the type of person who rode the fence," said Barela, who's considering a run for the House District 19 seat being vacated next year by Rep. Richard Decker. He ran for the seat in 2002 but lost to Decker.

Barela is a source of pride for the Democratic Party in El Paso County, party Chairman John Morris said.

"He's never hidden the fact that he's a Democrat, and he's been re-elected repeatedly by a large margin," he said. "Given the tremendous changes in Fountain in the last eight years, he's a figure we're proud of."

Barela is fond of recalling the poor shape the city was in when he took office in 1997.

City Hall was in an old hardware store; the city didn't have a human resources or Internet technology director or a public works engi- neer. Its planning documents were out of date, and its codes weren't enforced.

It didn't have a Web site, and it had a bad reputation.

"I thought if I'm going to live here with my kids, I have to do something about it," Barela said. "My job was to create a vision."

He did just that, Howells said. "I think Ken has been an outstanding mayor," she said. "He's been vision- and resultoriented."

He's also stirred controversy along the way -- most notably when he pushed for a rezoning along U.S. 85/87 to be more restrictive commercial. Owners who complained that it raised their taxes and made it difficult to sell their businesses waged an unsuccessful campaign to oust Barela.

During Barela's time as mayor, the city also beefed up its code enforcement, built a new city hall and was named an All-America City in 2002.

After voters rejected a proposed tax increase in 2003 to build new libraries, the Pikes Peak Library District decided to build one anyway, with the city of Fountain and Fountain Fort Carson School District 8 providing $310,000 in property and improvements.

Barela regards the library, under construction now, as one of his greatest accomplishments.

Jim Coke, one of those who tried to recall Barela, sees it as an example of ignoring voters' wishes. "The library was voted down, and here we are, putting up a new library," he said.

Still, he said, "I respect Kenny. I think it's a tough job for anybody."

Barela always seemed on a fast track -- for example, he was eager to update planning documents, Councilman Jim Heckman said. He also is a strong public speaker who articulates his message well, Heckman said.

Barela's weakness is his ego, Heckman said: "He didn't always give credit where credit was due."

Paul Muuss, a former councilman, has the same criticism.

"He made many disparaging remarks about the way the city was run instead of being gracious and thanking those who went before him," said Muuss, who was on the council from 1985 to 1989.

Barela's wife, Debbie, doesn't see it that way. "He's not trying to take credit for everything," she said. At the same time, she said, his involvement prompted needed changes: "I'm just very proud of what he's done."

For Barela, the most difficult period occurred in the past year, as City Council meetings grew raucous and controversy swirled around Councilman Al Lender, who has since been recalled.

"What bothered me was the perception people were getting of Fountain," Barela said.

What bothers him now, too, is the stance he took last year on the Rural Transportation Authority. The council decided not to participate in the plan to fix the region's roads, which voters later approved.

At the time, Barela complained that Fountain leaders couldn't serve as officers on the authority's board, a position he now regrets.

But Barela has always done what he thought was best for the city, Muuss said.

"He made great strides in the city, and I think the city is better off for having had him as mayor for eight years," Muuss said, then added, "Oh, God, did I say that?"