The REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) and MIBOR members helped elect REALTOR®-friendly candidates last week by taking the time to get educated and vote. One hundred percent of RPAC supported candidates were victorious on Election night!
REALTORS® serving as RPAC Trustees spent numerous hours reviewing candidate questionnaires and conducting personal interviews in the spring and fall before deciding on which candidates to support. The candidate review process covered a wide variety of issues including; economic development, taxes, sign regulations, planning and zoning, public safety, Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) and more.
Enhancing the quality of life in our communities is another major issue. This entails having a strong public schools system. Improving IPS is essential to the success of our urban core and that success spreads well beyond Marion County. While there are many schools performing well within the IPS system, we have continued to see areas that need improvement. As a result of this need, MIBOR made a decision this year to support three IPS school board candidates. The candidates received the endorsement of MIBOR’s RPAC Trustees and were all victorious on Election Night.
Why did we get involved in the IPS race? “We know that schools and crime are the top two driving factors in determining the location of where someone buys a home. While there are many schools performing well within the IPS system, REALTORS® throughout central Indiana have long experienced the negative impact of the perception that IPS has had on the real estate market,” Peter Pizarro, MIBOR RPAC Chair. MIBOR’s involvement with this race was essential during this unique opportunity to move IPS forward with new Superintendent for IPS, Dr. Lewis Ferebee.
Thank you for considering our 2014 Voter’s Guide suggestions this year.
COUNTY |
OFFICE |
DISTRICT |
CANDIDATE |
Marion |
I.P.S. School Board |
At-Large |
Mary Ann Sullivan |
Marion |
I.P.S. School Board |
3 |
Kelly Bentley |
Marion |
I.P.S. School Board |
5 |
LaNier Echols |
Boone |
County Council |
4 |
Steve Jacob |
Hamilton |
Mayor |
Fishers |
Scott Fadness |
Hamilton |
Fishers Council |
At-Large |
Rich Block, Cecilia Coble, Todd Zimmerman |
Hamilton |
Fishers Council |
S.W. |
David George |
Hamilton |
Fishers Council |
N.C. |
Eric Moeller |
Hancock |
County Council |
4 |
Bill Bolander |
Hendricks |
County Council |
2 |
Jay Puckett |
Hendricks |
Brownsburg Council |
5 |
Glenn Nulty |
Hendricks |
Danville Council |
3 |
Marcia Lynch |
Hendricks |
Plainfield Council |
2 |
Lance Angle |
Hendricks |
Plainfield Council |
3 |
Bill Kirchoff |
Johnson |
County Commissioner |
2 |
Kevin Walls |
Johnson |
County Council |
1 |
Pete Ketchum |
Montgomery |
County Commissioner |
2 |
Jim Fulwider |
Montgomery |
County Council |
3 |
Mark Smith |
Shelby |
County Council |
4 |
Linda Sanders |
However, an election night victory does not conclude our efforts. We look forward to working with these elected officials in the future to protect our industry, enhance the quality of life throughout our communities and provide the necessary assistance to enhance and improve the REALTOR® Party efforts.
RPAC operates to achieve the following MIBOR goals:
A healthy, vibrant real estate market exists throughout the central Indiana region.
The real estate industry is free of undue local restrictions, regulations and/or legislation.
Should you have any additional questions or concerns regarding the November election or RPAC, please feel free to contact:
Chris Pryor
Member and Industry Advocacy Director
chrispryor@mibor.com
(317) 956-5240
Lex Fay
Political Affairs Liaison
lexfay@mibor.com
(317) 956-5250
Sara Laycock
Economic and Community Development Liaison
saralaycock@mibor.com
(317) 956-5258