Politics, for most of us is a word that conjures up many feelings. We may agree or disagree with certain issues. We wonder how this bill affects me and what are the benefits or disadvantages of a specific candidate. Most recently, we might have wondered how many political mail pieces will I receive or how many more TV ads are they going to run? Thankfully, the simple answer to that last question is none, well, at least not for another two years. But in all reality, politics affect each and every one of us; if real estate is your business, then politics is your business.

Every year after the legislative session comes to an end, the association reflects on our successes and possible shortfalls. These, along with new challenges that arise, are reviewed at our annual REALTOR® Caucus. This is the time period in which the association begins the process to formulate the legislative agenda for the coming year.

Upon completion of the REALTOR® Caucus, the recommendations are compiled into one document and forwarded on to AAR’s Legislative & Political Affairs Committee and then to AAR’s Board of Directors for approval. Once approved, the Legislative Policy Statements become the AAR lobbying team’s marching orders and set in motion the various tasks that need to occur in order to achieve success at the legislature.

This year will prove to be exciting yet challenging as there will be 26 new legislative members to educate on real estate issues and our agenda. As set forth by the state constitution, the legislative session begins on the second Monday of January. This year, we anticipate many challenges at the legislature, some of which include efforts to repeal Arizona’s anti-deficiency protections, elimination of the Mortgage Interest Deduction, and the continued battle to reform HOA statutes.

Come kick off this year’s legislative session by joining the Arizona Association of REALTORS® at our annual REALTOR® Day at the Capitol on January 15, 2013. This is an opportunity for members of the association to familiarize themselves with the legislative process, hear from speakers involved within the industry, and most importantly, convey first-hand to their senators and state representatives the various issues of importance impacting the real estate community.

REALTOR® Day at the Capitol

When:

Tuesday, January 15, 2013 | 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Where:

Arizona State Capitol — Wesley Bolin Plaza

Register   |   Event Flyer

AAR members are invited to this free event. Support your industry. Meet with legislators. Attend legislative hearings. Make your voice heard!

9:00 am – 10:00 am Registration

10:00 am – 11:30 am REALTOR® Rally

11:30 am – 1:00 pm Lunch

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Meetings with Legislators, Hearings & Caucuses

Free parking and shuttles are available from the Arizona State Fairgrounds. REALTOR® Day at the Capitol is open to AAR members only. The event is free and includes a catered lunch. No shows will be charged $25.

Arizona REALTOR® Magazine — December 2012

Nicole LaSlavic is the Vice President – Government Affairs at the Arizona Association of REALTORS®. LaSlavic represents the association at the Arizona capitol. In the past, LaSlavic has worked as a lobbyist for a law firm as well as at a local government relations lobbying firm. She has advocated and implemented policy and programs on a broad range of issues, including health care, retirement, public safety and economic development. Throughout her career, she has developed and maintained relationships with legislators, staff and members of the various state agencies. In addition, LaSlavic has solid expertise in fundraising and event planning for both political candidates and organizations. You can reach her at nicole@aaronline.com or 602-248-7787.