Programs That Advocate for You
PAR has created programs to help you and your associations advocate on behalf of your industry and consumers.
These programs include an active grassroots system, the Issues Mobilization program and partnering with local associations to assist with advocacy in local government.
Issues Mobilization Program
PAR’s Issues Mobilization Fund provides advocacy campaign assistance on issues that have a statewide impact on private property rights and/or homeownership.
What’s an issue advocacy campaign? It’s an organized effort to educate the voting public on an issue and to mobilize voters to support your position. In an issue campaign, no candidate is running. It’s the issue or policy that’s competing.
Local associations can access matching funds through Issues Mobilization to help support or oppose issues in your area.
Financial support is provided for initiatives such as:
- Ballot-measure campaigns
- Grassroots lobbying
- Mass media advertising
- Educational efforts
- Legal review of municipal ordinances
- Data collection/research
Review the Issues Mobilization Fund Guidelines before submitting a request.
Download the Issues Mobilization Fund request application.
Contact Emme Reiser, politcal programs manager, for more information.
Local Affairs & Field Staff Programs
The PAR local affairs program monitors local ordinances and works with local associations to develop and implement advocacy campaigns. Some associations maintain their own government affairs program, led by a Government Affairs Director (GAD), to present a unified voice for the real estate industry.
PAR’s Field Staff Program provides local associations across the commonwealth with government affairs representation. The field staff attend local association meetings to provide legislative updates, promote and raise funds for RPAC, monitor local ordinances and grassroots organizing, and coordinate candidate interviews for municipal elections, among other activities. The field staff help local associations reach their advocacy requirements outlined in the National Association of Realtors® Core Standards.
The Field Staff Program includes 25 local associations covering nearly 1,600 municipalities and representing 6,000 Realtors®. For more information, please contact Chuck Liedike, PAR field operations and grassroots manager.
Field Program Regions & Associations
Northcentral
Associations: Bradford-Sullivan, Central Susquehanna Valley, Lebanon County, North Central Penn, Schuylkill County & West Branch Valley
Staff contact: Chuck Liedike
Northeast
Associations: Greater Scranton, Luzerne County, Pike/Wayne, Pocono Mountains
Staff contact: Chuck Liedike
Northwest
Associations: Allegheny Valley Board, Clearfield-Jefferson, Elk-Cameron, Greater Mercer, Lawrence County, McKean County & Warren County
Staff contact: Kelly Stroup
South Central
Associations: Allegheny-Highland, Cambria-Somerset, Centre County & Huntington County
Staff contact: Alex Marquis
Southwest
Associations: Beaver County, Butler County, Greater Allegheny Kiski & the Realtors® Association of Westmoreland, Indiana and Mon Valley
Staff contact: Justin Capouellez
Tools
Common Level Ratio – visit the State Tax Equalization Board (STEB) for current common level ratio information.
State Political Coordinator Program
The State Political Coordinator (SPC) program ensures that state legislators are informed of priority issues impacting Realtors® and the clients they serve in the commonwealth. Changing political dynamics are prompting a strategic approach to advancing PAR’s priority issues. The SPC program will provide PAR with an opportunity to build stronger relationships with state legislators. Realtors® selected to serve as SPCs must be active members in good standing with their state and local associations.
If you're interested in learning more about the SPC program, contact Chuck Liedike.