Advocacy at Work for You: Meet Your Local Advocacy Teams

At the Tri-Cities Association of Realtors (TCAR), advocacy is not just a concept – it’s an active and ongoing effort led by two dedicated committees: the Government Affairs Committee and the RPAC Committee. Together, they work tirelessly to ensure that housing champions get elected and that policies affecting our industry remain fair and beneficial for property rights, homeownership, and real estate professionals like you.

What advocacy looks like at TCAR

Advocacy within TCAR is a two-pronged effort:

• Government Affairs Committee – This 13-member volunteer committee serves as the watchdog for local ordinances and policies affecting housing and property rights. They meet regularly to review proposed legislation, communicate with elected officials, and lobby for pro-housing policies. Their work doesn’t stop after an election; they continue to engage with policymakers, ensuring that the voices of Realtors and homeowners are heard.
• RPAC Committee – The Realtor Political Action Committee (RPAC) focuses on fundraising and education to support housing-friendly candidates. RPAC contributions provide the resources necessary to elect officials who prioritize housing issues. RPAC also plays a crucial role in issues mobilization, such as in 2023 when funds were made available to combat extreme traffic impact fee increases in the City of Richland.

The Process: From Election to Action

The advocacy cycle starts with the Government Affairs Committee, which interviews candidates for city, county, and state offices in the 8th District. Party affiliation doesn’t matter – what matters is a candidate’s understanding of property rights, housing, and the industry’s challenges. The strongest candidates receive TCAR’s endorsement, and only endorsed candidates are eligible for RPAC contributions.

Once elected, the Government Affairs Committee continues to work with these officials, lobbying on behalf of our industry and ensuring that legislative decisions support a thriving housing market.

The Impact of Your Advocacy Team

In 2024, TCAR’s RPAC Committee, with just four dedicated volunteers, raised a record-breaking $89,791 – the highest in TCAR history. This brings our current local RPAC account balance heading into 2025 to $35,458. However, these funds are quickly stretched thin when considering the scope of our efforts and the necessity of ongoing support from all levels of advocacy.

In the last three election cycles (2022, 2023, and 2024), TCAR’s Government Affairs Committee endorsed 20 candidates. These candidates collectively received $385,480 in RPAC funding, a level of investment made possible through collaboration and support from both the state (Washington Realtors) and national (National Association of Realtors) levels. An impressive 90% of these candidates won their elections, ensuring that our industry has strong representation in key decision-making bodies. That’s overwhelming support across all levels of Realtor associations to specifically influence OUR local candidates, industry, and community.

Beyond elections, the Government Affairs Committee stays engaged by monitoring policies and ordinances that impact housing. Their work helps prevent harmful regulations and promotes solutions to housing affordability and availability challenges in our region.

This is something you should take pride in—whether by raising a toast to yourself or simply acknowledging the impact you have as a Realtor. Hopefully, you’ve shared with your clients how your work extends beyond transactions to advocacy for the communities you serve.

You play a vital role in shaping the housing industry through advocacy, lobbying, and the electoral process. You help identify and support qualified public servants who can address the housing challenges facing Washington and our local area.

Moving forward, this newsletter will help you place your finger on the pulse of our housing industry by providing insight into advocacy efforts, legislative decisions, property rights, housing availability, affordability, and the ongoing search for strong public servants who can lead our communities toward real housing solutions.

If you’re unsure how to explain this to clients or want to deepen your understanding of RPAC and the role of government affairs at your association, there are plenty of ways to get involved.

How You Can Get Involved

Advocacy is an ongoing effort that benefits every Realtor. Here’s how you can stay informed and engaged:

• Join us for a Lunch & Learn: Tomorrow, February 13th, we’re hosting an RPAC-focused session at TCAR’s office. Check your email for your invite to Heartfelt Advocacy: The Realtor RPAC Love Story.
• Attend TCAR’s 2nd Annual RPAC Auction: Mark your calendar for March 13th at the Fiesta Event Center for an evening of dinner, drinks, live music from the Knutzen Brothers, and exciting auction items—all in support of RPAC.

If advocacy is the engine that drives our industry forward, then RPAC is the fuel that keeps it running at full speed. Without these, our ability to influence policies, elect housing-conscious officials, and protect property rights would be severely diminished. Your participation ensures that we remain strong, effective, and able to fight for the future of real estate.

Together, we make a difference!