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‘Layer’ of leadership missing, Kuss says

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By Tom Stafford, Staff Writer 9:54 PM Wednesday, May 19, 2010

SPRINGFIELD — Given Richard Kuss’ long, outstanding commitment to the city and its causes, it’s natural that when talk turns to the future leadership of Springfield, people ask: “Who’s going to be the next Dick Kuss?”

At 86, Kuss himself is asking a different question.

He’s wondering what will happen when Pete Noonan, Andy Bell, Tom Loftis and the current generation of leaders — many moving through their 60s — leave the scene.

After them, “we’ve got a layer missing,” Kuss said.

Both Kuss and Fred Leventhal, now 88, who spent many years together advancing civic causes, say that’s the result of a fundamental change in the economy and culture — and even lifestyles — that are calling for a new kind of leadership.

Kevin E. O’Brien, executive director for the Center for Public Management at Cleveland State University’s Levin College of Urban Affairs, couldn’t agree more.

Given a description of the challenges facing Springfield across the board, O’Brien said, “It sounds a lot like everywhere right now.”

To a Springfield bemoaning the loss of home-owned businesses, it may seem ironic that O’Brien can be heard describing Cleveland as “a branch plant city now.”

To a Springfield vexed over the losses the Turner Foundation suffered during the economic downturn, O’Brien says that in his city, with the nation’s largest community foundation, “what was fundable a short time ago isn’t fundable now.”

From O’Brien’s descriptions, Springfield leaders’ attempts to promote cooperation in the public and private sectors for economic development and among private social service and arts agencies is reflective of national trends driven by economic reality.

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