A Few Words for C.A.R. Regional Reps and Supporters!

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.

My father was President of C.A.R. in 1972, the same year I graduated from high school. Two years after I graduated, I started my real estate career.

For 27 of my 33 years in the business I have served as a Director of C.A.R.  I’ve been a N.A.R. director for 23 years. Through those years, I have vice-chaired or chaired dozens of committees at both the state and national levels. I have also served as Vice-Chair of SPF, of which I am still a committee member.

I’m proud of my accomplishments and service, but I share this with you not to boast, but to let you know the depth, dedication and breadth of my experience in organized real estate.

I’ve worked through the ups and downs of the last 30 years, so I know how we got to where we are now. I am intent, through SPF, to help blaze the path to where we are going, to where we want to be.

I’ve asked many of you to share your ideas and suggestions about the issues facing us today and tomorrow for a simple reason: I want to be known as the “members’ president.” If it’s important to you, it’s important to me and to the future of our profession.

I also want to be president of the California Association of Realtors® for personal reasons:

• I am passionate about the industry;

• I’m a hands-on, working REALTOR®;

• I have 40 agents in residential real estate, commercial real estate, property management, mortgage and escrow services – professionals who depend on me and the decisions we make.

What we do at C.A.R. impacts every transaction, including the $245,000 condo sale I’m working on that should close escrow shortly … I hope.

My opponent is formidable, a man who I deeply respect and whose service is appreciated. Yet I feel I am the better-qualified candidate, the person who understands and can clearly and concisely articulate the issues of the day to the media and the public at large.

This is experience gained from being designated as an expert witness more than 600 times over the past 20 years. Each case involved vital issues of standards of care for REALTORS®, including the more than 100 times I have testified in court in front of judges, attorneys and juries.

These pressure-cooker moments gave me deep knowledge about the issues that come with being a REALTOR®.

Please email or call me with your thoughts and opinions. I truly care about what you care about.

In closing, I want to thank my local association, the Southland Regional Association of REALTORS®, and its Chief Executive Officer Jim Link for all the help and support. I also want to thank the C.A.R. staff for immeasurable assistance over the years. We are truly lucky to have such dedicated and knowledgeable staff!

Thank you to those who spoke here today, thank you to those who took the time to write a testimonial, which appear on my website, www.TC2012.com.

And a special thank you to my number one supporter, Nancy, and my best friend and campaign manager, Ziggy.

And, of course, thanks to all of you!!

Remember . . . Experience Matters!!

Thank you and God Bless!

October 9, 2009