No chain of command exists for leadership change

Brooksville, Fla. - The local civil rights organization is working under the assumption they have no chain of command to replace their outgoing president.

The president of NAACP/Chapter 5092 was met with disheartening news from their national office as he geared up to run for Hernando County Commission, district 5. The national office of  NAACP called to say they wanted his resignation due to a prior precedent set within their organization.  When the local president officially becomes qualified as a candidate he will have to step down.

Executive directors for the civil rights organization will decide the method of replacement for the outgoing president in a closed-door meeting later this month. A majority vote by their general membership is necessary to approve the executive directors' decision.

According to Suzanne Touchton, secretary for NAACP/Chapter 5092, the group is working on the assumption they have no vice presidents to assume the leadership position with the pending resignation of their president, Paul Douglas.  "Under normal circumstances we would have three vice presidents at our local chapter for replacement through succession," Touchton said.

Paul Douglas indicated he misspoke when he prematurely announced he would resign his position as president of local chapter of the NAACP in December.  "I just couldn't walk away from the organization after our only vice president, Ron Swanson told me he wouldn't take the position as president," Douglas said.

Paul Boston, community activist, made his intentions clear at their December meeting.  He announced he wanted to run for president of the organization when Douglas officially turns in his resignation. It is Boston's understanding an election would need to take place within 30 days to replace the outgoing president.  

"It is just something I remember," Boston said.  "But you might ask the secretary in charge of elections."

According the Touchton, their bylaws don't have provisions for officer replacement without a proper chain of command in place.  She said the bylaws only cover how bi-annual elections are conducted which is why the executive director will set up procedures at their closed-door meeting later this month.

Douglas intends to nominate Andrew Williams as a vice president for continuity within their organization.   Williams is the husband of Annie Williams, supervisor of elections.  He is also a past-president of the local NAACP.

"I want proper authority in place," Douglas said, before he turns in his resignation to the organization.