Attorney sworn in as new president of local NAACP branch

James Bible, a Seattle attorney, has been sworn in as president of the Seattle King County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Bible, 34, an attorney with The Defender Association and first vice president of the NAACP, replaces 32-year-old Sheley Secrest, whom the board named a year ago to complete the unfinished term of Alfoster Garrett Jr.

Board member Cynthia Hobbs said members are confident of Bible's ability to lead the organization.

"We're moving forward," she said. At a retreat later this month, the organization plans to discuss goals and the direction it wants to take. "We think education is a top priority right now."

Bible is the organization's third president in two years.

Secrest said it was her choice not to seek another term after completing Garrett's term.

She chairs the legal redress committee for the NAACP's statewide conference, she said, and "I want to focus on that. I see the [Seattle] school closures and efforts for attorneys to galvanize around civil rights and race discrimination as clear needs."

Hobbs said Secrest served the organization well, despite challenges.

"She came in after the last president; it was a big challenge to do this and be a new attorney and have a family," Hobbs said. "She led us through the last year. We didn't do a lot, but we held on. She did a good job."

Lornet Turnbull: 206-464-2420 or lturnbull@seattletimes.com