The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has passed through a storm of criticism in recent months. Now it has embarked on a new journey with a newly elected chairwoman.
But in Anne Arundel County, the local branch of the NAACP still is being tossed about on the waves of controversy.
During last fall's local NAACP elections, many of the same allegations swirling about the national organization were heard about the county's chapter.
Gerald Stansbury, who described himself as a grass-roots candidate, challenged nine-term director Jean Creek. He accused her of mismanaging and poorly reporting NAACP funds and of becoming complacent and too distant from the membership after 18 years in office.
For her part, Ms. Creek denied his allegations and reminded members of her lobbying efforts to turn the abandoned Wiley H. Bates School in Annapolis into a senior center. She charged that Mr. Stansbury was simply a pawn of Democratic city leaders in Annapolis and had never been an active member of the local NAACP branch.
Both candidates conducted telephone and mail campaigns and even bused people to the polling site at First Baptist Church in Annapolis. In the end, more than 470 of the branch's 1,000 members voted, and Ms. Creek was returned to office by a mere 11 votes.
Now, responding to an appeal by Mr. Stansbury, the national organization has ordered the branch to hold new elections.
The NAACP's leadership found that both Mr. Stansbury and Ms. Creek were denied access to the full membership rolls during their campaigns. Mr. Stansbury complained that he was given the list of members only on the eve of the election. Ms. Creek says that she never learned of many new voters recruited by Mr. Stansbury.
Both candidates say they support the decision to hold new elections next month and look forward to another chance to reach the members.
We also welcome the new elections and urge the branch leadership to conduct them in a fair and open manner. The NAACP has a long and proud history, but it needs strong and open leaders to face the challenges of the 1990s.
The Anne Arundel branch, like its parent organization, must pass through this storm and set a new course for the future.