Tracy Taylor in line to become Dougherty NAACP president

ALBANY — There are those who snidely talk about Albany firefighter — and current House District 153 candidate — Tracy Taylor for a lack of success in his quest for political office.

But even the detractors can’t deny Taylor’s success as a community activist.

Taylor may not have won a political battle, but he has proved himself one of the most involved citizens in the county, having served as chairman of the Dougherty County Republican Party and as chairman of the local Community Development Council Board.

In a week or so, Taylor will be able to add another key element to his resume: president of the Dougherty County NAACP. His elevation to that position comes at a time when the local chapter is in the middle of an inactive period.

“Mr. Kenny Florence and I had served as NAACP vice presidents from 2009-2011, but the local chapter had become inactive when the most recent past president (Kiaira Jackson) graduated from Albany State (University) and moved to Atlanta,” Taylor said. “I reached out to the state office, and thank goodness the people on the executive committee knew me.

“They agreed that, with Albany’s history in the civil rights movement, there’s no way Albany and Dougherty County should be without an NAACP chapter.”

State NAACP President Gerald Griggs commended Taylor for “stepping up” to address the matter.

“With the historical Albany Movement and other key civil rights moments in Dougherty County and southwest Georgia, one of our focuses on the state level is to assure there is a chapter there,” Griggs said in a phone interview. “We’re in the process of reorganizing the chapter, and we’re thankful to Mr. Taylor for stepping up to help us work toward that goal.

“The steering committee should be through with its work in the next week or two, and Mr. Taylor will assume his position as president. We’re looking forward to that.”

Taylor, 40, has been actively involved in his adopted Albany community since moving here almost 15 years ago. He said he felt an immediate “call to duty.”

“I could see the need and urgency here,” he said. “I immediately wanted to be a part of making things better. I’m invested now; I’m a homeowner, my kids were born here, and both my wife and I are about to graduate from Albany State. I’m here for the long haul; I feel like I owe a lot to this community.

“Being a part of the local NAACP leadership is going to be a huge step for me. It’s historic, an opportunity to bring all my skills to the table. I’m looking forward to taking on the social issues that are the current focus of the state and national NAACP.”

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