Community Newsmaker JIM BARKER

BY CHAD COHEN

Born in Georgia, Jim Barker has made Coral Gables his home for most of his life.

A graduate of Jacksonville University with a bachelor's degree in business administration, he was first elected to the Coral Gables City Commission in 1989 and currently is serving his third consecutive term, having been re-elected in 1997.

Before Barker was elected to office, he served the Southern Bell Corporation as a district manager responsible for managing corporate and external affairs for Dade County. He established himself as the corporate liaison with municipalities. He managed extensive, successful lobbying efforts in Tallahassee, which led to full time public relations responsibilities in addition to managing Southern Bell's Coral Gables office, the largest facility in the area, for 14 years.

Because of Barker's concentrated interest in the Coral Gables area, he has focused much of his service back into the community that he identifies as home.

"What defines Coral Gables from the rest of the South Florida is its real sense of community. Coral Gables is the combination of easygoing residential neighborhoods and a capital of international commerce," Barker said. "It is like no other city in the world."

As a city commissioner, Barker has become involved in the city's inner workings. Through his tenure, he has worked diligently to open new avenues of communication and to allow the city of Coral Gables to grow into what it is today.

He is an 11-year veteran of service on the Coral Gables Commission and over those years he has been able to strengthen the bond between government, its residents and regional businesses.

Six years ago, Barker was fundamental in the approval of a scholarship fund that is sponsored by the commission. The $5,000 scholarship must go to an African-American student from Coral Gables High School and can be used to offset tuition fees on the college level.

"I was very proud of this accomplishment. Education is the key to expanded knowledge," Barker said. "Through this scholarship fund, we on the commission are able to help children in our community to learn more and to continue their academic careers."

Barker also was an essential part of the campaign to get a fire station to the south end of Coral Gables. The station now sits near the intersection of Old Cutler and Red roads, and has improved response times by several minutes. The precious time that this new fire station saves has translated into saved homes and lives.

"This was so important to our community," Barker said. "We had to lobby for the money and increase our staff but we knew that this was an essential component of the growth of Coral Gables. It is our responsibility to provide public safety to our residents and through the new fire station, I believe we have."

Barker wants, in the future, to direct his efforts into the establishment of a senior center for Coral Gables residents. He envisions the center as a place where seniors would come together to discuss issues and socialize.

Barker also involved himself in the community through his efforts at the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. He is a past president, membership chairman and chairman of the committee of 21. He also is a member of the Rotary Club and actively participated as a member of the Orange Bowl Committee, serving as its president.

Barker is very active in his church, the University Baptist Church on Anastasia Avenue. He is a deacon and a member of the finance committee who helped to secure land to expand the facilities for the ever-growing congregation.

"By combining hands-on work and humanitarian support, we can fashion a community in which we are all proud to live in," said Barker. "Each day that we work to better our community, puts us a step closer in achieving that ultimate vision."