Story Published:
Apr 20, 2009 at 10:24 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Apr 21, 2009 at 11:36 AM CDT
SPRINGFIELD -- Ralph Manley, a longtime volunteer civic leader known for his enthusiasm for the city and for passing out Eisenhower silver dollar coins, unexpectedly resigned from the Springfield City Council on Monday night. Manley abruptly handed Mayor Jim O'Neal his resignation as the meeting ended and then walked out of council chambers.
Manley distributed a statement to reporters before he handed it to O'Neal but he didn't tell his colleagues on the council about it.
The 85-year-old real estate developer and highly decorated World War 2 paratrooper was the longest serving member of the council. He was first elected in April 1999 to represent southwest Springfield's Zone 3. He was twice re-elected, most recently two years ago.
Manley served four years as mayor pro tem, a stand-in for the mayor when the mayor isn't available to preside at a meeting or represent the city at a ceremony or event. Manley ran against Dan Chiles and Doug Burlison for mayor pro tem on Monday night but none of the three got the required five votes to win the post.
After the meeting, Manley said he'd decided before Monday that he likely wouldn't serve out the remaining two years of his term. His wife died last year and he said he's decided to move to a smaller home outside the city. The disappointment of not being elected mayor pro tem made him move up his resignation.
In an interview in the hallway after the meeting, Manley said he is insulted that two council members who've filed for bankruptcy got more votes for mayor pro tem. Burlison filed for personal bankruptcy and Chiles' company had to seek Bankruptcy Court protection from creditors several years ago after it lost a product liability lawsuit.
“My wife of 58 years passed away over a year ago and things in my life have changed,” he wrote in the note to the mayor. “I will be going to France for a couple of weeks to help celebrate their liberation from Nazi Germany. When I return I will be moving outside the Springfield city limits and will not be eligible to serve on city council any longer.”
The mayor must now appoint someone to fill his seat, and the city council must approve it, for the remainder of Manley's term, which expires in 2011.
To watch video of Manley's resignation and his interview with KY3's David Catanese, head to www.ky3.blogspot.com.
Follow Dave's Twitter updates, by cheading to www.twitter.com/davecatanese
