NAACP Unit Running for Public Office

WHEREAS, on occasion, some NAACP unit officers are elected or appointed to public office, which may create a conflict of interest between the unit officers' governmental duties and their NAACP duties; and

WHEREAS, the NAACP is a non-partisan organization, and any NAACP unit officer who runs for public office while continuing to serve as an NAACP unit officer may create the impression that the Association is supporting political candidates and political parties.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that any Unit Officer or Committee Chairperson who qualifies to run for office and/or establishes a fundraising committee or officially files for partisan or non-partisan public office shall relinquish such NAACP office or NAACP chair temporarily during the period of such candidacy.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that any Unit Officer or Committee Chairperson who is elected to office shall immediately tender resignation from such unit office or chair to the executive committee of the unit which shall, at its next regularly scheduled meeting, vote to accept or reject the same. Should the committee vote to reject the resignation, the officer or committee chairperson tendering the same shall make a conscientious examination of the situation and determine whether continued service will be substantially free of conflict and in the best interest of the NAACP. Should the answer to the question be in the affirmative, the officer may continue to serve.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the officer or chair shall continue to evaluate the situation with respect to conflicts and the potential for conflict and resign should conditions change. Any officer continuing to serve after a substantial conflict or the potential for substantial conflict has been manifested is subject to removal through the Article X procedure.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that any Unit Officer or Committee Chairperson who is appointed to elective public office to fill a vacancy or otherwise or to appointive public office in which the officer or committee chair is expected to take public positions on issues on behalf of a governmental subdivision or agency or an elected official shall follow the procedures set forth above.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that this resolution will apply to non-partisan public offices such as non-partisan school boards.  This resolution shall not apply to Unit Officers or Committee Chairpersons elected or appointed to a public office prior to October 2021.