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National Association of REALTORS" Top 10 Policy Issues for 2010. 

Contact Tom Carnahan if you have questions regarding this list or suggestions on issues that should be added.

 The full text of Tom Carnahan’s speech delivered at the recent Candidates’ Forum in Indian Wells is below. Contact Tom if you have any questions or suggestions.

Good afternoon.

Thank you for having the commitment to be here today. Your participation is essential and appreciated.

As you know, I’m running for 2011 President-Elect.

Like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve are wonderful holidays.

They are all so enjoyable and amazing with their focus on gratitude, family, giving, rebirth and rededication – noble virtues that we strive to nurture throughout the year, but pay special homage to during the holiday season.

The following is the essence of a presentation I made to supporters, people who wanted to learn more about my candidacy, and regional representatives at the recent C.A.R. meeting.

I am very humbled to be here as your candidate for the 2011 President-Elect of the California Association of REALTORS®. I have been in the real estate business through my entire professional life and have had the distinct pleasure of working with many of you in this room.

Here's the text of a recent e-mail I sent to delegates in advance of the C.A.R. meeting.

REALTORS® know how to work together, yet REALTORS® also are an independent lot.

Ask 100 REALTORS® to come up with a list of just five issues and I’m certain, after a little discussion, there would be virtually unanimous agreement on three out of the five. The fourth and fifth issues each might garner 80, 90 or even 100 different answers.

 You’ve been flirting with running for C.A.R. President for years, so why now? What convinced you the timing was right? David W

Two reasons: In the past, I needed to be selfish; and, secondly, these are the most challenging times the industry has encountered in my lifetime. 

Selfish? Let me explain. I generally say “Yes” to every request that gets me more deeply involved in SRAR, C.A.R. or N.A.R. activities. But while my two daughters were growing up I had to say “No” even to things I wanted to do. The girls were more important than giving up the added time necessary to correctly fulfill a key leadership commitment. 

Kinsley, who is now 27, graduated from Pepperdine three years ago. Kate is in her junior year at UCSB. Both were highly ranked and deeply involved in state and national tennis competitions and local volunteering. I simply didn’t want to miss any it! Now that they are grown, I can fully commit my energy and focus on REALTOR® issues.

And who wouldn’t want to get more involved at time when so much is going on and there is so much at stake? The industry is in a very tenuous and vulnerable place right now, a place unlike anything I’ve seen in the 35 years I’ve been selling real estate. Yet with such turmoil comes great opportunity. What we decide in the coming months and years represents a once-in-a-lifetime chance to shape the future of our industry. 

The Internet came along and people talked about the disintermediation of the Realtor, which I never felt would happen. People today talk like the recession is the end of the world, as we know it. Nonsense. Change with the times. Move on to the next opportunity. It’s what we all have been doing every year.

Yes, we have challenges way beyond what REALTORS® have ever seen before. Yet with each challenge comes an exciting nugget of opportunity. With a great team and committed leadership we can accomplish so much.  

Why run now? If not now, when?