'I love Warren' outgoing Mayor Jim Fouts says as he exits office after 16 years

He's not been without controversies. Many, actually.

Outgoing Warren Mayor Jim Fouts, beloved by many and disliked by some, is taking his final bow as the longest-tenured top leader of Michigan's third-largest city. He has spent more than four decades as an elected city officeholder.

Last Tuesday, voters for the first time in 42 years didn't see his name on the ballot for a city office. They elected state Rep. Lori Stone as their next mayor, the first woman to carry the title in the 60-plus years that Warren has been a city.

"My life is my job," Fouts, an avid jogger, told a crowd Nov. 2 at his retirement party. "I gave up everything, including my life."

'I love Warren'

The day after the election, Fouts sat in his second-floor office at City Hall. Papers were still around his desk as well as a copy of President Harry Truman's desk sign: "The buck stops here!" Framed posters of Frank Sinatra, his favorite singer, hung on the walls, as well as photos of himself with politicians and celebrities, including President Barack Obama and comedian Joan Rivers.

Newspaper clippings were sprinkled about, chronicling moments in his life and tenure, including a yellowed clipping of him in kindergarten. The front page of the Free Press documenting the first time he won the mayoral seat in November 2007 screamed a banner headline about General Motors, a major employer in Warren that has its Tech Center across from city hall: "GM takes $39-billion hit."

"I love Warren," he said, "and I love the citizens of Warren."

'He worked the community'

Pollster Ed Sarpolus, founder and executive director of Target-Insyght, who was raised in Macomb County, said no matter Fouts' personal record, what baggage he had, what he did or did not do, who he did or didn't associate with, or his foibles, from the moment he entered politics "he worked the community."

"He was always out there pounding doors. He was always around," Sarpolus said. "When it came to politics, he worked very hard. And he didn't hold back on his speech."

Fouts "wasn't perfect," Sarpolus said, but he mastered communication, was consistent and fought for a city that didn't fold through economic challenges and a pandemic.

Michael Taylor, mayor of neighboring Sterling Heights, said Fouts is "an institution in the city of Warren and in Macomb County.”

Stone said she is appreciative of anyone who serves the community for such a long time.

"These are sacrifices," the incoming mayor said.

'The neighborhood mayor'

Fouts was first elected to City Council in 1981, when Ronald Reagan was president, after failing to win a state representative seat three times. The former higher school government teacher served 26 years as a councilman before becoming mayor in 2007. He said he hasn't taken vacations, gave up his city retirement, used his own vehicle and paid for his own gasoline.

Fouts' prided himself in diversifying city appointees, including hiring a Black fire commissioner and Black city attorney, tackling blight, reinstating city-run EMS and being available 24-7, including early morning and late-night calls to department heads and returning residents' calls at night.

He's cracked down on fireworks, tried to extinguish the use of flamethrowers in the city and held ceremonies to honor veterans, centenarians and Martin Luther King Jr.

"The neighborhood mayor" said he's proud of three accomplishments:

• His Buy American push during the auto industry crisis shortly after he took office, which could have bankrupted the city as well as GM and Chrysler, now Stellantis, which are major employers in Warren.

• Efforts after the historic 2014 flood that damaged thousands of homes, including a more than 20-million-gallon detention basin that's being completed to help reduce future flooding.

• The city's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including being a vaccination center, testing site and location for a local food rescue organization to help residents.

For years, Fouts has been pushing for a town center around City Hall; a destination location with full-service hotel, nightclub, upscale shopping, pubs and lofts.

That plan never got City Council approval, one of many topics in which the mayor and council have butted heads over the last four years. The two sides have tumbled into court numerous times on many disputes, from budgets to term limits.

Maybe, Fouts said, Stone might be able to get the plan through. He believes the new council will be a supportive one.

As for regrets, Fouts said, that unlike Sinatra sings in "My Way," he has none.

Controversies and public spats

Fouts' tenure had ample critics, controversies and public spats, including allegations that he threatened and lunged at city employees, and the release of alleged secretly recorded audiotapes purportedly of him making racist comments, a gay slur, using vulgarities to describe older women and degrading people with special needs.

The mayor repeatedly denied it was his voice on the tapes and, at one point, regional politicians and others called on him to resign. His supporters encouraged him to keep fighting as they and Fouts said the tapes were phony.

Last week, Fouts said a federal judge in a civil lawsuit "ruled the tapes were not authentic. They could not be proven, and therefore, they could never be used in a court of law again."

"The tapes are over. It's clear they were manipulated. I know that, but I'm not gonna say how I know that, but that was because of the closed deposition," he said, adding: "That was not Jim Fouts. That was manipulated, manufactured tapes and maybe that was the first of the AI, I don't know."

"I think that ends it. Did I enjoy all the controversy? No. Did I have better things to do? Yes. That's just one of those challenges," he said.

More: Warren Mayor Jim Fouts won't be mayor, but he's 'not going anywhere'

Throughout his tenure, Fouts also feuded with other public officials, including Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, a Democrat. One in 2016 started around allegations of illegally dumped dirt at Freedom Hill County Park in Sterling Heights and escalated.

Nonetheless, Hackel was among four countywide officials from both political parties who spoke at Fouts' retirement soiree earlier this month.

Beforehand, Hackel said: "We all have differences of opinion. We all go through various challenges in our lives. Sometimes, personalities get in the way of what ought to be done. I've been fortunate to work with him in initiatives — economic development, roads. He was, and I was, able to put away our differences."

Hackel was born and raised in Warren, spending his first 41 years there, and as sheriff he spoke to Fouts' classes at Sterling Heights High School. He said what attracted people to Fouts was he was "always accessible ... I mean, instantaneous."

"He was a very hands-on mayor and would answer the people's calls when they called. He was very accessible to the people directly, and I think that’s what endeared him to the voters. I think most people, the biggest concern they have is, 'Are you listening?'" Hackel said. "And if nothing else, he would listen to people and try to figure out what he could do to resolve those problems and wouldn't put them off, wouldn't put them on hold."

Hackel said Fouts also wasn't afraid to take on politics and other public officials or mince words.

"He's a fighter," Hackel said. "He's never been afraid of controversy."

A legacy, but no lounging around

County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller, a Republican, said Fouts has a passion for government and the city. She quipped how he would call at all hours of the day, but he "wants to do what he needs to do for the people that he represents."

Miller said he leaves a "remarkable legacy" and she's "sure this won't be the last public office we'll see you in."

So what's next for Fouts?

Sitting around watching TV won't be on the list, he said.

"I've got some options," Fouts said, though he only divulged one — he's looking at writing a book.

"I think I have some things to say," he said.

And, there's still one thing up in the air. He's waiting to see if the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals will take up his request for a mayoral primary with his name on the ballot.

Fouts said he's not sure he would find another job as great as the one he's had.

"I've been very lucky," he said.

Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Outgoing Warren Mayor Jim Fouts leaves city government after 42 years