The first thing to understand about the flap over the Umass-Boston Chancellor search is this: Keith Motley is our guy.

The contentious debate over who will lead our local university into the future came to an end on Wednesday, when the trustees ratified President Jack Wilson's choice of Dr. Michael Collins. The former CEO of the Catholic hospital network Caritas Christi, Collins made his mark locally as he successfully steered both Carney Hospital in Lower Mills and St. Mary's Women and Infant Center in Uphams Corner through some lean years. In fact, folks at those two Dorchester facilities loved him and were chagrined when Archbishop O'Malley abruptly asked for his resignation last year. Full disclosure: Michael Collins is my second cousin, and he is an admirable choice.

But it was Motley who brought about the dynamic change in the university's relationship with the neighborhood. For more than 30 years, the campus never seemed to value the needs and desires of its neighbors, and many community leaders came to distrust the mammoth campus and almost anything that emerged from there. It was an unfortunate dynamic, because of course, UMass-Boston has long been a force for good in our community. However, the aloof posture of past administrations sowed mistrust in neighboring communities. More recently, the drumbeat for on-campus student housing that emanated from the office of past chancellor prompted outright hostility between campus officials and neighborhood activists.

That all changed under Keith Motley, who created a warm bond of trust in the neighborhoods. When Keith Motley spoke, people came to believe him. He is a good man and we trust his skills and his judgment.

It is unfortunate that the selection came to be viewed in racial terms; this support for Motley, a black man, was about far more than his ethnic roots. When the initial surge of protest came last week, media reports focused on a press conference hastily organized by the legislature's black caucus, and those reports were skewed towards a contest between an Irish-Catholic man and an African American man.

But no one who supported Motley ever suggested that Dr. Collins was not qualified for the job, but rather that Motley had been a proven leader and a healer in his short term, and his success should count for more. In fact, city leaders from Mayor Menino to Council President Michael Flaherty, and Councillors Murphy and Kelly all joined UMass graduate Rep. Marie St. Fleur this week in support of extending Motley's chancellorship.

While this was never primarily a debate about affirmative action, it is disappointing that a young black leader who clearly could handle the job was blocked from ascending into the permanent position. The fact that UMass President Wilson has persuaded Motley to join him as a vice president for the entire university speaks volumes: Dr. Motley's strengths, his great skills and wonderful promise can now benefit all five campuses.

But for us, we're saddened to lose his stewardship over our local campus. We came to know him well over his short time here. He was our guy, looking after this great urban university and these great urban neighborhoods.

Oh, what great things he could have done here in Dorchester!

- Ed Forry