Government Affairs Department FAQ
Q. What are the major functions of SCCAOR’s Government Affairs Department?
The Government Affairs Department at SCCAOR serves as a liaison and advocate for the REALTORS® before legislative bodies at the local level. The Government Affairs department educates legislators on SCCAOR’s legislative priorities, helping public policy decision-makers make informed decisions on legislation or regulations that impact the REALTORS®. Some of the more important committee functions include: monitoring of statewide legislation, keeping the state association directors informed on proposed governmental actions being considered, assist in the drafting of policies and or legislation affecting commercial real estate issues, raising funds for Realtors Political Action Committee (RPAC) and Issues Mobilization Committee (IMF).
Q. What are Local Government Affairs Director Responsibilities?
Effectively design and manage the political activities of the association in a manner that improves the short and long term potential for legislative success. To effectively identify and manage local public policy issues, (and in coordination with SCCAOR, CAR and NAR, state and federal issues), that impact the real estate industry and association members in a manner that improves the short and long term potential for legislative success. To design and execute effective and timely communications with elected officials, members, media, staff and the general public in a manner that improves the short and long term potential for legislative success.
Q. Where does my contribution to RPAC go?
Your contribution is used for various political purposes, particularly to support or oppose candidates and issues that may affect the real estate industry. Contributions may also be used for political grassroots campaigns, such as our successful campaign against the Measure A on the November 2006 ballot.
Q. How did RPAC do in the last election?
RPAC remained the nation's largest PAC in direct contributions to candidates with disbursements of over $4.2 million dollars to federal candidates and national political committees in the 2002 election cycle. RPAC also spent over $600,000 on our Opportunity Race program that mobilized REALTORS® to be active in 88 congressional campaigns. This represented huge growth over the 2000 cycle when RPAC contributed $3.6 million to candidates and conducted 64 Opportunity Races. Most impressive, RPAC resumed its Independent Expenditures program after more than a decade hiatus. We spent over $1 million dollars on behalf of 6 champions of REALTORS who were locked in toss-up elections, and amazingly 5 of the 6 were victorious. RPAC continued its bipartisan tradition, contributing 53% of its funds to Republicans and 47% to Democrats, which closely tracks the current makeup of Congress. RPAC was on the winning side of 96% of the 453 congressional and senate races we contributed to, and we won 94% of the Opportunity Races we conducted. Locally, we were successful in 75% of the races we participated in. The most notable of all was the victory of Chuck Reed as Mayor of San Jose, which will usher in a business minded climate.