Fort Wayne NAACP swears in new president

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – New leadership has taken over the local chapter of the NAACP. Rev. Dr. Saharra Bledsoe was officially sworn in as the new president Thursday night at the Allen County Public Library .

"I am here to serve, 24 hours a day, I'm on call 365 days a year for the next two years," Bledsoe said.

Bledsoe was elected amid controversy last month. Paulette Nellems had been re-elected as president in November , but resigned her post on Christmas Eve after a lifetime member notified the national NAACP that the election was done improperly. The state NAACP came in to oversee December's election. Bledsoe says now that's the past, and the organization should be moving forward.

"Join us in coming to the NAACP and tell us where you would like to see us. And how you would like to see us involved in your particular problem or situation," said Bledsoe.

Bledsoe said for the first time in this local organization's history, all 24 committee and executive board seats have been filled.