Paul Boehlke/KTVB

Brent Coles sat down with KTVB for his first full-fledged interview since resigning in 2003.

PORTLAND - It's been 4 1/2 years since we last heard from Boise Mayor Brent Coles. 

Since then, he's left public office, served jail time, and rebuilt his life.

KTVB's Alyson Oüten followed the scandal from the very beginning in 2002, and sat down with Coles for his first full fledged interview since the scandal broke.

KTVB has been asking Coles for an interview since his resignation in 2003, he has politely declined the request each time.  This time he said yes and, for the first time, reflects back on his political and personal downfall.

It was an infamous chapter in Boise City history, a spending scandal that claimed several political lives.

At the center of it al was the city's mayor.  Coles was convicted by a jury of financial misconduct, along with his Chief of Staff, Gary Lyman.

"It was very, very dark and very, very difficult," Coles said.

For the first time since his political demise five years ago, Coles agreed to an on-camera interview with NewsChannel 7.  

With the clarity of hindsight, he does not make excuses for his actions, nor does he place blame on others involved with this scandal.  Instead...he is contrite and candid.

"I regret not being a better mayor,” he said. “I knew what I needed to do and I didn't take care of business and then when I made my mistakes I didn't take care of those quickly enough. I regret that everyday"

The total monetary misstep amounted to about $4,000 - taxpayer money misused for personal gain during business trips - including the purchase of tickets to a Broadway play in 2002, and for other extracurricular expenses on a separate trip three years earlier.

"I made some very serious mistakes and I paid dearly for that," he said.

That price included one month behind bars, probation and fines.  But Coles says the real punishment preceded his criminal judgment.

KTVB file

Coles resigns from his role as Boise Mayor on February 14, 2003

"I am here this morning to announce my resignation as mayor of this great city," Coles said on February 14, 2003.

On Valentine's Day of 2003 Coles stepped down from office, ending his 20 career as a public servant.

"It was gut wrenching.  It took my whole soul and laid it on the ground.  My whole soul. Serving as the mayor of Boise has been the highest honor of my life, it was a childhood dream," Coles said. “I had spent a lifetime - all my college years - getting a masters degree in public administration, a degree in political science, I'm a social scientist."

"And there I was making a difference in people's lives and suddenly, through my own fault, mistakes I'd made, found my life in shambles."

Brent Coles appears in court in 2003.

Coles say he spent the past several years rebuilding his life, his career and his reputation. 

Taking advantage of an offer from a friend, he initially began by working at a plumbing business following his incarceration.  He now owns his own real estate development company.  And all the while, continued to call Boise home

"I love this town and my family thrives here. We talked about that as a family.  Our choice was, do we go somewhere else and start our life over again or what is it that we have here? We live in the same house, in the same neighborhood and our job has changed and life has changed..."

"We grew as a family, we're strong now, we're grateful and I'm willing to talk now.  I'm willing to present that message."

"I was used to, over a 10 year period of time, presenting a lot of positive messages and so today maybe this is my last positive public message: it is that, whatever happens to you, you can move forward and you should move forward and you should step out of the darkness and keep trying.  There's a world out there that is friendly and hopeful, despite all the negative you see in the world today."

Coles was not the only casualty of this scandal. Coming up tomorrow Tuesday on KTVB.COM and News at Ten, he talks about his thoughts on the ripple effect this had throughout city hall.

He also addresses whether there's any possibility of future political plans.