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RAPAC Victory Without A Fight Saves Tucson Taxpayers Half Billion $

By
Real Estate Agent with Realty One Group Mountain Desert AZDRE# SA582422000

How would you like to look your client in the eye & tell them straight out that you saved them & their neighbors $500 Million?  Thanks to RAPAC in Tucson, you can!

***(Note to reader - RAPAC is the REALTOR Arizona Political Action Committee - RPAC is the national arm of the SuperPAC)

The City of Tucson has used up all of its capacity to raise money by issuing Bonds – it has reached its legal limit.  Since Tucson cannot balance its budget, City Council had the idea that they would include raising the cap on the debt they could issue in a package of sorely needed changes to the City Charter this November – which would allow them to issue up to a HALF BILLION DOLLARS in bonds (which are repaid only by those who own property in Tucson…not everyone). 

Tucson Association of REALTORS got wind of the proposal, formed a coalition with other community groups, contacted NAR about the potential problem & arranged for RPAC funds to be available in case we needed to fight the proposal – and presented the Mayor with the fact that they were ready, willing & able to fight – with national backing – if they chose to put this measure on the ballot.

Mayor & Council saw the odds stacked against them & killed the proposed lifting of the cap.  THIS is how RAPAC – YOU – saved your clients and neighbors $500 Million without a fight.  Just the threat of serious, organized opposition caused city leadership to back down.

 

A Victory is a Victory - it doesn't always require a battle. Sometimes the BEST victories are won by stopping the fight before it starts. Thanks RAPAC, Tucson property owners & REALTORS® owe you one!

Disclosure - Kent Simpson serves on the RPAC Participation Council, Arizona RAPAC Trustees & is an RPAC Major Donor.

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Real Estate Is About People

NAR® Board of Directors 2013-16
   Land Use, Property Rights & Environment 2016
   RPAC Participation Council 2014-16
   Federal Finance & Housing Policy 2013-14

AAR® Board of Directors 2013-16
   Legislative Policy 2013-16


Inside Tucson Business "Up & Comer" 2014

Greater Tucson Leadership Class of 2012

 


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All original material written by Kent Simpson unless attributed to source.©2007-2014

 

Comments (13)

Mel Ahrens, MBA, Kelly Right Real Estate
Kelly Right Real Estate - Hood River, OR
Customized Choices for your Real Estate Needs

Hello Kent,

Congratulations - I did have to googgle RAPAC to see find out what RAPAC meant.

Mel

 

Aug 03, 2015 08:25 AM
Kent Simpson
Realty One Group Mountain Desert - Tucson, AZ
Real Estate Is About People

Thanks Gretchen - I fixed that after your comment!

Aug 03, 2015 08:32 AM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Congratulations, Kent. This is a huge victory you should be proud of.

Aug 03, 2015 11:49 AM
Kent Simpson
Realty One Group Mountain Desert - Tucson, AZ
Real Estate Is About People

I wish I could take credit for it, Jane - but the real credit goes to Steve Huffman, who serves as the Government Affairs Director for Tucson Association of REALTORS.

Aug 04, 2015 04:52 AM
Shirley Coomer
Keller Williams Realty Sonoran Living - Phoenix, AZ
Realtor, Keller Williams Realty, Phoenix Az

Great news!  Wonderful for the home owners in Tucson.  Hopefully any other city contemplating this will learn from this!

 

Aug 04, 2015 12:21 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

That's what i call a World Cup kind of save! Wonderful news indeed! Love and light and all the very best!

Aug 04, 2015 12:24 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Thanks to Steve most definitely! I was remiss in not mentioning him! Much success for a good deed! 

Aug 04, 2015 12:27 PM
Kent Simpson
Realty One Group Mountain Desert - Tucson, AZ
Real Estate Is About People

Shirley - Our mayor is already gearing up to try to reintroduce the same measure next year...he's in for a rude awakening, especially since we're more than ready for it.

Laura - on behalf of Steve:  Thanks!   Our association is very fortunate to have Mr. Huffman as its Government Affairs Director - he knows how to play the game:  former State Rep & Senator (term limited out).

Aug 04, 2015 02:29 PM
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

When people rant against NAR I like to remind them of situations just like in your city, and congratulations. We did the same in getting a state lae banning vacant home registries that Oklahoma City started which could have cost vacant homeowners up to $195 per month. NAR chipped in with our RPAC dollars.

Aug 04, 2015 10:55 PM
Kent Simpson
Realty One Group Mountain Desert - Tucson, AZ
Real Estate Is About People

Hi Joe - thanks for sharing...we all have issues in our various markets that have been helped by RPAC guidance or dollars (or both).  I'm going to be doing a series of these posts, identifying different issues that have been solved - keep your eyes open!

Aug 05, 2015 09:45 AM
Anna Hatridge
R Gilliam Real Estate LLC - Farmington, MO
Missouri Realtor with R Gilliam Real Estate LLC

Kent, thank you for sharing how RPAC is helping the public even when they don't know they need the help.  As Advocacy-RPAC chair for our local board, I know that we had a similar success in Missouri this year. Your post has reminded me that I need to do blog post about how RPAC saved Missourians from having to pay a sales tax on every home purchase.

Sep 07, 2015 10:13 PM
Anna Hatridge
R Gilliam Real Estate LLC - Farmington, MO
Missouri Realtor with R Gilliam Real Estate LLC

Oh Kent, You have a new follower.  I hope you will check out my blog too and find a thing or two that is interesting or entertaining to you.

Wishing you a wonderful week. 

Sep 07, 2015 10:14 PM
Kent Simpson
Realty One Group Mountain Desert - Tucson, AZ
Real Estate Is About People

Anna Hatridge - thanks for following (right back at ya!).

As a member of the RPAC Participation Council at NAR & Arizona RPAC Trustees, one of the biggest hurdles I hear consistently is getting members to understand WHY participating in RPAC is important. We've got to get better at communicating specific examples & bring it home to local issues that have a direct effect on our individual businesses and our clients.  Thanks for all that you do - my challenge to you is to reach out & get 5 local REALTORS to understand the value & contribute $20 to RPAC before November...you can do it!

Sep 08, 2015 09:36 AM
Anna Hatridge

Kent, well we are at 70% of all our board members contributing.    We have two Sterling members also. 


This is my last year as chair, I been doing it for 3 years so it is time for the next person to get the experience.  It has been great to go from 32% when I started to 70% so far this year.  


I use every meeting I attend to inform and encourage our members to contribute.  

Sep 08, 2015 01:11 PM