Amusing though it may seem, the shenanigans in Federal Heights have gone on long enough.
The mayor of this town of 12,000 took a part-time job as a bouncer for a local strip club, Bare Essence, demonstrating unreasonably bad judgment. Then residents learned of allegations that Dale Sparks in April tipped club employes to the presence of undercover officers investigating prostitution, and they organized a recall.
On Tuesday, the recall committee learned it had enough valid signatures to force a vote. We hope Mayor Sparks will recognize this loss of confidence in his leadership and step down before such an election is necessary.
“This is not a huge moral crusade, but a huge good-judgment crusade,” said Ted May, a recall organizer.
Sparks, who has served as mayor for six years, vows to fight the recall.
Clearly, he has a different standard of conduct for public officials than those he governs. Recently, he told The Denver Post: “I’m not a wife beater, I didn’t get arrested for drunk driving and I’m not a child molester. If I’m guilty of anything, it’s of bad judgment for working (at the club).”
Since the brouhaha erupted earlier this year (in which Sparks claims he didn’t know anything about the lap dances going on inside), Sparks has quit his bouncer job, good evidence that he recognizes right from wrong.
Police told Adams County prosecutors that Sparks had distracted undercover officers and that he was part of a system to tip off dancers engaged in illegal activity. Ultimately, prosecutors decided they didn’t have the evidence to support criminal charges.
But avoiding indictment shouldn’t be the bar for public office. Shortly after learning that Sparks wouldn’t be charged, the Federal Heights City Council voted 4-2 to ask him to resign over his behavior at the strip club. He declined.
“It’s just strictly allegations and opinions at this point,” Sparks told The Post. “But that is what’s great about this country. If you don’t like something, you try and change it. It just sucks that right now I’m involved in it.”
Indeed.
After the recall petition is submitted, the council has 90 days to set an election. The town’s electorate seems to be taking steps to rid itself of its controversial and questionable mayor. It’s time for Federal Heights to focus on more important questions – like improving its withering tax base – than whether the former strip club bouncer makes a good mayor. Sparks should see that it’s time for last call.
