by Fred Seely, Editor
It’s again time to choose our leaders and local associations are urging that you take time to vote.
“We’re at a crossroads in our industry,” said Chris Hagan, who heads government affairs for NEFBA. “We have to elect people who understand this.”
NEFBA and NEFAR members and staff spend considerable time and energy when election season comes, and a big one is coming up. Almost every office of major influence in the nation, the state and the area will be on the ballot, either the August 14 primary, the November 6 general election or both.
The importance of voting for industry-supporting candidates is a recurring theme.
“We need to start electing leaders who will protect our industry and who understand that our industry is the driving force of the economy,” said Hagan.
Nancy Garcia is Hagan’s counterpart at NEFAR and added, “We always tell our members: ‘If your business is real estate, then politics is your business.”
The two associations follow similar routes in choosing candidates they believe will be best for the construction and real estate industries.
The first step is to invite candidates to interview. This doesn’t involve guesswork, just communication with the elections office in their respective counties.
Then, appointments are made to bring candidates — one by one — before a panel of association members from each county — for instance, St. Johns County candidate will interview with St. Johns people.
The county offices each send their recommendations to the main association board, which then puts together the “official” slate and sends it out to the membership.
“Almost every office can impact our industry,” said Garcia, “and that’s why our leaders make every effort to identify candidates who will be supportive. Our endorsements come from the peers of our members.
“Elected officials make decisions every day that have an impact on our industry.”