Opinion: Manley, Finnie deliver good government

First came the news of a ceremony held late in September honoring Springfield’s unofficial good will ambassador, Ralph Manley. Sept. 26 was declared Ralph K. Manley Day in the city of Springfield.

Next came the recent announcement that Tom Finnie – the benchmark by which future city managers should be judged – will retire in April. Had not these two events occurred so close together, it’s possible I wouldn’t have felt the urge to write about them both.

Ralph Manley is a retired real estate developer, college instructor, World War II hero, American patriot and probably the most visible member of Springfield City Council.

A definitive example of Manley’s character is that over the years, he has given away more than 24,000 Eisenhower silver dollars. That’s right, he hands them out to people he meets. Since he never meets a stranger, he is apt to lay a silver dollar in the hand of anyone.

There must be times when he is in a bad mood and doesn’t offer an exuberant smile and hearty greeting, but I don’t know of anyone who has ever caught him being gloomy.

Without doubt, he is the most positive, upbeat person I know.

At age 81, Manley is a highly decorated paratrooper who walked the walk of a hero on D-Day and a successful businessman; he certainly has earned the right to retire to a rocking chair.

But, no. Earlier, I referred to Ralph Manley as a good will ambassador. His energetic personality can’t help but reflect positively on the city he represents. People from all walks of life are able to relate to him. He truly is the heart and soul of city government.

The ceremony held in Phelps Grove Park not only honored Manley for his spirited governmental leadership, but announced the Ralph K. Manley Endowment for the school attended by his children, Parkview High School. The fund will help purchase educational supplies for needy students, which perfectly reflects the man. Any honor in Ralph Manley’s name should in some way help people.

Otherwise, it just wouldn’t fit him.

My vision of Springfield as a well-governed city is supported by the fact that City Council rarely makes news with headlines about scandals or infighting. The business of the city conducted by the council is what is newsworthy, which is the way it should be.

This brings me to the retirement of City Manager Tom Finnie.

I would like to believe that if you were to ask central casting to send over the ideal city manager, they would send Tom Finnie. As one who once, very briefly, considered a career in public administration, I understand why Finnie is so perfect for the job.

Although my thin-skinned personality would have gotten me fired the first day on the job, he seems to fly mostly under the radar of public opinion with a minimum rancor.

Tom Finnie has accomplished so much in his tenure because, like City Council, he has rarely been the source of news; it’s his results that made headlines.

Granted, some people would bad-mouth the city manager even if Mother Teresa held the office; however, very little public criticism has come Finnie’s way. He has been described as a hands-off, consensus-building leader.

Anyone working with groups knows that a consensus beats a 4-to-3 majority every time. It means issues have been talked out and everyone is on the same page. A consensus builder is undeniably a leader of substance.

Finnie’s fingerprints are all over the renaissance of downtown Springfield, especially the splendid Jordan Valley Park. His leadership role in that project alone deserves a hearty “Well done.”

Springfield is indeed a well- governed city: Ralph Manley and Tom Finnie are two who help make it so.

Joe McAdoo is former chairman of the communication department at Drury University.