Advocacy in Action: How Elections Shape Housing Policy in Sarasota and Manatee

Every election cycle, I receive questions and comments from members about the Association’s election activities. These questions reflect some of the most common concerns and curiosities we hear from members, including:

“Why do we endorse candidates?”

 

“What do you consider when making an endorsement?”

 

“What party do you all support?”

 

“I don’t like politics. I wish the Association would stay out of it and just stick to REALTOR® issues.”

The answer is simple. Advocacy doesn’t begin with a policy vote; it begins at the ballot box.

The politicians elected to city commissions, county commissions, and the state legislature ultimately decide the policies that shape housing in Sarasota and Manatee counties. That includes decisions about growth management, land use, property rights, and housing supply.

When REALTORS® support candidates who understand housing, it helps ensure that the voices of housing professionals are heard when those decisions are made.

Over the years, that engagement has helped shape several important local policy conversations.

REALTOR® advocacy has consistently supported candidates who understand the need for smart growth policies that allow communities to grow while protecting quality of life.

The City of Sarasota’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan vote is a perfect example of how elections have consequences. RASM, along with a coalition of business groups, advocated for modernizing Sarasota’s land use plan to allow the right type of growth in the city’s urban and commercial corridors. This would allow density to be built in the appropriate places with the goal of creating a more walkable and vibrant city. The plan made development projects more predictable and cost-effective, helping put downward pressure on housing prices while also incentivizing affordable housing within the city.

Of the five-member board, four votes were needed to change the Comprehensive Land Use Plan; just two “no” votes would have killed the plan and stopped progress in its tracks. All four of the necessary yes votes were REALTOR®-supported candidates at one time.

By supporting candidates who understand these issues, we helped ensure that growth is managed thoughtfully rather than reactively. We were able to ensure that development in the downtown core and commercial corridor of the city received a density bonus if they also set aside units for affordable housing. This increased overall housing supply while also expanding much-needed affordable housing in areas where it makes the most sense.

Another example of how elections have consequences is on the other side of the coin. If REALTORS® don’t get involved and we don’t utilize our large voice to help elect the best candidates, some truly poor policy decisions can take place.

Think about the real estate market where you currently work. Now imagine if the government said no new units could be built in your market because they want to implement a growth moratorium. A growth moratorium wouldn’t stop growth; it just stops housing. When that happens, our supply shrinks, prices climb, and the dream of homeownership moves further out of reach for your clients who want to live and work in our community. This isn’t a far-off scenario; this was proposed by a sitting Commissioner in Manatee County.

That’s why it’s so important that the officials making these decisions understand housing and the impact their policies have on buyers, sellers, and our local economy. This is why we interview, endorse, and support candidates who do.

The Process

The endorsement process starts with your Public Policy Committee. This committee is made up of 15–20 REALTORS®. The makeup of the committee is diverse. We purposely fill the committee with members from diverse backgrounds and professional expertise that we believe is reflective of our membership. The goal is to have robust debates and conversations centered around candidates and their position on real estate issues. We have an even split between Manatee and Sarasota members. We have residential and commercial REALTORS®. We have members from large franchises and local independent brokerages. Some members of the committee have been in the business for decades; others are less than 10 years into their professional careers.

The committee interviews candidates, and they only ask real estate and business-related questions. We do not delve into hot-button political and cultural issues; the focus of the committee is real estate, issues that impact you, your clients, and our industry.

After the interviews, the committee will deliberate and determine which candidate for each office they believe understands our issues, aligns with our views on public policy, and only then will the committee send a recommendation to the Board of Directors for approval or denial.

A Seat at The Table

The goal of REALTOR® advocacy isn’t simply to influence elections.

It’s to ensure that when the next important housing decision comes before a city or county commission, the people in the room understand the impact of that decision on homeowners, buyers, and the local economy. Supporting the right candidates helps make that possible.

Because if REALTORS® aren’t at the table, decisions about housing will still get made, just without us. 

Learn More

Want to learn more? Visit our Voting & Elections page for endorsed candidates, important deadlines, and a quick video overview of REALTOR® advocacy.

Voting & Elections