As a REALTOR®, I have committed serious time and resources to building my business. When government hinders my efforts to help home buyers and sellers with bad legislation, it can be harmful to all of us. Each new tax increase can eliminate a buyer from the marketplace. Well-intended, but misplaced regulation can unnecessarily complicate the transfer of a dream home from one buyer to the next. That's where advocacy and RPAC comes in.

Are you concerned about the following issues?

• Protecting the real estate industry from unfair taxes
• Advocating for improvements in the property tax system
• Promoting smart regional economic development tools
• Promoting home ownership across the economic spectrum
• Fostering a vibrant commercial real estate sector

When I support RPAC (the REALTORS® Political Action Committee), my dollars work to elect and re-elect candidates on a local, state and national level who understand the REALTORS® and a pro-home owner perspective. RPAC is there, when I can't be, asking the tough questions of candidates on our behalf and making sure they understand the key issues that affect the housing market and our industry. RPAC gives us a seat at the table to share our expertise so that our legislators don't make decisions unwittingly that could negatively impact the real estate industry for both homeowners and REALTORS® alike.

I am a member of the Illinois Association of Realtors and Peoria Area Association of Realtors Governmental Affairs Committee, which is not about Republican or Democrat agendas but about the home owners rights and my rights as a small business owner to do business.