PROView - September 2008 - (Page 6) PROActive It’s Election Season: REALTORS® in Politics By Brian Shuford, Director of Governmental Affairs Everywhere we turn there’s talk about the upcoming elections. Through local to national television, print media and certainly online exposure, news about races for political offices is broadcast 24/7. For a political wonk like me it is like having an early Christmas. For many, though, it’s probably quite overwhelming. As voters we’re charged with the task of getting to know each candidate, issues at stake and their proposed solutions. In our busy lives, who has the time to look into all of it? Many probably dismiss it with the thought of “it doesn’t matter to me who becomes the next property appraiser or county commissioner.” Truth is that it does matter. It matters to you as well as your customers. In actuality, your municipal government has more effect on your day-to-day life than the President of the United States. Earlier this year a committee made up of REALTOR® members selected which candidates to recommend and the list is provided adjacent to this article. Regardless of whom you plan to support, however, the most single most important thing you can do is vote. This is your chance to let local politicians know that REALTORS® are a forceful group of professionals. Now only a couple of months away from the November 4 election, what are the issues that you as REALTOR® will be asked to either support or defeat, and what is the expected impact by the local elected officials? Local government provides basic services and quality of life amenities and services. Every decision made most definitely will impact the lives of all of our citizens. Through the leadership of your elected officials roads are built and potholes fixed. Under their leadership toilets flush and its residue is highly treated to be reclaimed water for lawns. Our government ensures that clean and healthy drinking water flows from the spigot, that our trash is collected curbside, burned and turned into electricity. We also have our local government to thank for maintaining 24 beautiful parks for the enjoyment of citizens and visitors alike. Through decisions made by government officials, jobs are created and expanded for a healthy economy, and much more. The Basics of the New Pinellas County School Choice Plan Have you heard that the Pinellas County School system is completely revamping its student assignment plan for the 2008-2009 school year? “The nexus of the plan is to get back to the days of students going to schools near their homes,” said Jim Madden, Assistant Superintendent of the Pinellas County School Board, at a recent meeting at PRO. Will the changes impact you as a REALTOR®? Without a doubt! Your customers will ask you about it and now is the time to get the answers. “The changes are certain to have a tremendous impact on the real estate industry, and the home search preferences of consumers, as it is no longer a guarantee that the children of your clients will be going to the schools of their preference. The new system came out of a Supreme Court ruling that made it unconstitutional to bus students to other schools based in an effort to promote diversity. There are a few key components the new plan was designed 6 PINELLAS REALTOR® ORGANIZATION around: 1. Getting back to close-to-home schools or zoned schools 2. Predictable feeder patterns 3. Multiple choices 4. Diversity 5. Reduced transportation costs. According to Madden, students will choose from schools in their attendance area. If more students choose schools than there are spaces available, preferences have been defined to decide which students will be assigned to each school. There are provisions in place for transfers within an attendance area and from one attendance area to another are included as part of this plan. As a result of the new plan three schools have been closed: South Ward in Clearwater, Largo Central in Largo, and Rivera Middle in St. Petersburg. September 2008
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of PROView - September 2008 PROView - September 2008 Contents Chairman’s Notes Feature Story PROActive Brokerage Design Marketplace Analysis Home Sales Report MLS Update Calendar of Events & Programs MLS Mind Your Manners New REALTOR® and Affiliate Members PROView - September 2008 PROView - September 2008 - PROView - September 2008 (Page Cover1) PROView - September 2008 - PROView - September 2008 (Page Cover2) PROView - September 2008 - Contents (Page 1) PROView - September 2008 - Chairman’s Notes (Page 2) PROView - September 2008 - Chairman’s Notes (Page 3) PROView - September 2008 - Feature Story (Page 4) PROView - September 2008 - Feature Story (Page 5) PROView - September 2008 - PROActive (Page 6) PROView - September 2008 - PROActive (Page 7) PROView - September 2008 - Brokerage Design (Page 8) PROView - September 2008 - Brokerage Design (Page 9) PROView - September 2008 - Brokerage Design (Page 10) PROView - September 2008 - Brokerage Design (Page 11) PROView - September 2008 - Marketplace Analysis (Page 12) PROView - September 2008 - Home Sales Report (Page 13) PROView - September 2008 - MLS Update (Page 14) PROView - September 2008 - MLS Update (Page 15) PROView - September 2008 - MLS Update (Page 16) PROView - September 2008 - Calendar of Events & Programs (Page 17) PROView - September 2008 - MLS Mind Your Manners (Page 18) PROView - September 2008 - New REALTOR® and Affiliate Members (Page 19) PROView - September 2008 - New REALTOR® and Affiliate Members (Page 20) PROView - September 2008 - New REALTOR® and Affiliate Members (Page Cover3) PROView - September 2008 - New REALTOR® and Affiliate Members (Page Cover4)
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