NAACP Eyes Elijah Cummings to replace Mfume
/Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) has been approached about taking the helm
of the NAACP when current President Kweisi Mfume steps down at the end
of the year. Cummings,
who succeeded Mfume in the House in 1996, said he's happy in Congress
but wouldn't rule out a bid to head the nation's most prominent civil
rights organizations. The Maryland lawmaker is nearing the end of his
term as the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, and the NAACP
job could afford him the opportunity to maintain a high-profile
political role, sources in and outside of Congress said. "It's
certainly something I would have to take a look at," Cummings said. "It
would be a rare opportunity to come along, a rare opportunity to move
into a position like that." Cummings
said it is a critical time in the history of the civil rights
organization - a time that requires a strong leader, whomever that may
be. The next president, he said, must be politically savvy, possess a
strong voice on civil rights and bring a "strong sense of the
organization's history." The NAACP is based in Baltimore, Cummings' home town. Rep.
Albert Wynn (D-Md.) said that if Cummings is interested in the post, he
would be "an excellent candidate" and "a good voice for the NAACP." As
the 95-year-old civil rights organization begins its search for a new
leader, Cummings is considered the strongest pick among Members of
Congress. Reps. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) have
also been mentioned as possible candidates, although sources said Lewis
is not interested. Regardless of what
Cummings does, Mfume's announcement last week signals the beginning of
Maryland's 2006 election season. [more]
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