PROView - July 2008 - (Page 6) PROActive The Anatomy of Candidate Screening by Ann Guiberson, President & CEO Part of the RPAC contributions members make annually goes to support candidates in local races. In fact, 30 cents of every dollar contributed to RPAC comes back to our county to be used to educate members in important political and legislative issues, to support candidates who will endeavor to advance real estate industry causes, and to promote or oppose ballot issues important to REALTORS®. Every year, PRO seeks out members who will become trained to serve as candidate screeners and every year these dedicated volunteers meet to discuss issues with candidates running for city and/or county positions. The screening committee is non-partisan, except for representing the REALTOR® party. Earlier this year candidates for numerous municipalities were screened and many received REALTOR® support. During the month of June, the candidate screening committee met over a two-week period with twentytwo candidates running for county positions as county commissioners, property appraiser, or school board. Prior to the screening sessions, the Public Policy Advisory Committee met and developed questions to ask the candidates. Each candidate was asked to fill out an information sheet and appointments were scheduled for them to come in and be interviewed. The discussions were lively and Pinellas County is fortunate to have so many well-qualified citizens willing and able to serve in these elected positions. Most interviews lasted at least 30 minutes and several went on for almost one hour as both interviewers and interviewees learned a great deal about each other. The big plus for all REALTORS® is that all candidates heard loudly and clearly what REALTORS® care about. The questions were very pointed and included the following topics for each race respectively: County Property Appraiser: Implementation of new appraisal laws, highest and best use, administrative and policy changes, and ethics. 6 PINELLAS REALTOR® ORGANIZATION County Commission: Affordable housing, water supply, economic development, redevelopment, transportation, emergency routes, and budget. School Board: School funding, school district budget, school assignment plan, merit pay for teachers, new superintendent, and teacher retention. In making recommendations, the panel took into consideration the candidates’ knowledge, experience, ethics and integrity, passion for the work ahead, electability, and their support. The Board of Directors recently announced recommendations of candidates for election in the following political races: Pinellas County Property Appraiser: Frank Gregoire, Gregoire and Gregoire. Frank is a very qualified appraiser in Pinellas County and he has 30-years experience in the appraisal industry. Frank believes that the interpretation of “highest and best” use needs to take into account all the factors allowed rather than just two or three as is currently done. Frank served on the PRO Board of Directors and also served on the board for both legacy associations. He was President of the St. Petersburg Suncoast Association of Realtors in 1992. Pinellas County Commission: At large District 1: Neil Brickfield. 1 Mr. Brickfield has a comprehensive understanding of the potential solutions to local issues including transportation problems, water supply, and redevelopment. He identified his most important issue as being the need to establish priorities and take care of the items the county has to do before focusing on nice-to-have services. Brickfield lives in Safety Harbor and is a public affairs consultant. At-large District 3: Rene Flowers. Ms. Flowers was impressive in both her experience as a transportation consultant and her passion for affordable housing and having the Sadowski funds fully funded by the legislature. Flowers was formerly a member of the St. Petersburg city council, a past president of the Florida League of Cities, and is a proven, hard-working public July 2008
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of PROView - July 2008 PROView - July 2008 Contents Chairman’s Notes Feature Story PROActive Making the Most of Your Membership Marketplace Analysis Home Sales Report MLS Update Brokerage Design MLS Mind Your Manners Calendar of Events & Programs New Members and Affiliate Members PROView - July 2008 PROView - July 2008 - PROView - July 2008 (Page Cover1) PROView - July 2008 - PROView - July 2008 (Page Cover2) PROView - July 2008 - Contents (Page 1) PROView - July 2008 - Chairman’s Notes (Page 2) PROView - July 2008 - Chairman’s Notes (Page 3) PROView - July 2008 - Feature Story (Page 4) PROView - July 2008 - Feature Story (Page 5) PROView - July 2008 - PROActive (Page 6) PROView - July 2008 - PROActive (Page 7) PROView - July 2008 - PROActive (Page 8) PROView - July 2008 - PROActive (Page 9) PROView - July 2008 - Making the Most of Your Membership (Page 10) PROView - July 2008 - Making the Most of Your Membership (Page 11) PROView - July 2008 - Marketplace Analysis (Page 12) PROView - July 2008 - Home Sales Report (Page 13) PROView - July 2008 - MLS Update (Page 14) PROView - July 2008 - Brokerage Design (Page 15) PROView - July 2008 - MLS Mind Your Manners (Page 16) PROView - July 2008 - Calendar of Events & Programs (Page 17) PROView - July 2008 - Calendar of Events & Programs (Page 18) PROView - July 2008 - Calendar of Events & Programs (Page 19) PROView - July 2008 - Calendar of Events & Programs (Page 20) PROView - July 2008 - Calendar of Events & Programs (Page 21) PROView - July 2008 - New Members and Affiliate Members (Page 22) PROView - July 2008 - New Members and Affiliate Members (Page 23) PROView - July 2008 - New Members and Affiliate Members (Page Cover3) PROView - July 2008 - New Members and Affiliate Members (Page Cover4)
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