REALTOR® Day at the Capitol: Lunch & Learn
On a bright and sunny January morning, REALTORS® from across Arizona gathered for the annual REALTOR® Day at the Capitol event.
This year’s attendance reached a record high, with more than 260 members attending; 161 of whom were first time attendees and 50 were major donors to the REALTORS® of Arizona Political Action Committee (RAPAC).
Customarily, the event is held each year during the first week of Arizona’s Legislative Session and is a unique opportunity for Arizona Association of REALTORS® (AAR) members to hear the most pressing legislative issues impacting their business as well as an opportunity to meet with their legislators on pending real estate legislation.
AAR wanted its members to emphasize two things to legislators – first, stop the professional service tax and second, don’t increase property taxes by keeping the “Homeowners Rebate” (a.k.a. State Aid to Education) program intact.
This year, REALTOR® champion and Secretary of State Michele Reagan joined our group to discuss issues not only effecting the real estate industry, but the state as a whole.
During lunch, several of the 90 legislators joined constituents from their districts. This gave AAR members the opportunity to discuss legislative priorities and establish lasting relationships with elected officials.
L. to R. – 2016 AAR President Paula Serven, Secretary of State Michele Reagan, REALTOR®
Ivan Valdez, Lake Havasu Association of REALTORS® outside the Arizona State Capitol building.
More photos on Facebook.
At the Legislative District 15 table, Representative Heather Carter, a former REALTOR®, herself said, “REALTOR® Day at the Capitol is a wonderful event that all legislators and legislative staff look forward to each year. As legislators, we know this event is always the second day of legislation session. Hosting the event on that day is wonderful, because it allows REALTORS® to get their issues front-and-center at the beginning of session and allows more legislators to attend because legislative committees have not yet begun.”
After lunch, all members were invited to visit both the House and Senate chambers. During the floor sessions, each REALTOR® was introduced and recognized by their Senator or Representative.
2016 AAR President Paula Serven said, “REALTOR® Day at the Capitol was a huge success. Legislators were met with plenty of sunshine, an exuberant group of their constituents and a lunch fit for kings and queens. The day was the best ever!”
“Having been to several REALTOR® Day at the Capitol events, this one was the best yet,” said Jim Durham, one of 22 members from the Lake Havasu Association of REALTORS® who traveled hours by charter bus to attend.
“I’ve only been in the real estate business since September 2015,” added REALTOR® Ivan Valdez, “and just happened to go to [AARonline] where I saw the ‘Capital Luncheon’ flyer. I actually made friends with other professionals, got to meet my own District 27 representatives and left very optimistic about my new career.”
REALTOR® Day at the Capitol is an annual, free event for AAR members. If you are interested in attending in 2017, look for registration to open in November 2016.
Nicole LaSlavic is Vice President of Government Affairs for the Arizona Association of REALTORS®
Related video: How a Bill Becomes a Law in Arizona
Tags: Heather Carter, Ivan Valdez, Jim Durham, Michele Reagan, REALTOR Day at the Capitol, Secretary of State, State Representative