NAACP branch clears election hurdle

Jace Radke

Monday, Feb. 15, 1999 | 11:21 a.m.

The Las Vegas branch of the NAACP is now only one hurdle away from putting a new president into office to tackle the chore of getting the local chapter back on track.

In a faxed statement, the Tri-State Conference, the NAACP's governing body for Utah, Idaho and Nevada, confirmed that all of the protests against the Jan. 9 branch election have been dismissed.

The report from the conference's internal affairs committee states that all that is needed for incoming president Gene Collins and the branch's elected officers to be sworn in is for the group's committee for branches to approve the election.

The approval by the committee is expected by Feb. 19, and Collins, a former state assemblyman, has tentatively scheduled a swearing-in ceremony for the new officers, including state Sen. Joe Neal D-North Las Vegas, as the group's new vice president, on Feb. 28.

If Collins receives approval from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's committee for branches, he said he plans to implement a five-point plan to restore the Las Vegas branch's reputation:

* The branch office will be staffed and operated from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

* All past presidents will be invited to meet monthly and give insight to the new NAACP leadership.

* The Clark County School District, UNLV, the Community College of Southern Nevada, the hotel and gaming industry and town hall meetings will be used as major resources by the new branch.

* The branch will develop better community relations with elected officials and community members to combat the threat of racism.

* The proper status will be restored to all branch members, and membership cards and branch information will be distributed.