TREPAC donation recipients should be required to subscribe to Article 10

The National Association of REALTORS, Code of Ethics Article 10 says:

“REALTORS® shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. REALTORS® shall not be parties to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. (Amended 1/14)

REALTORS® , in their real estate employment practices, shall not discriminate against any person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. (Amended 1/14)”

I have a concern about the monies given to political candidates and/or politicians through TREPAC have a requirement that the candidates and/or politician themselves subscribe to Article 10 of our National Code of Ethics.

How candidates and/or politicians are not already required to subscribe to Article 10 is shocking. I wholeheartedly believe that TREPAC contributions should have the requirement to subscribe to Article 10 just as the REALTORS that donate to the REALTOR Pac and this issue is a Texas REALTOR issue that affects all of us and not just a portion of the whole.

My concern is that people will not consider this seriousness of this issue and hope others will not treat this lightly, not be dismissed, and this issue receive the credit and serious consideration that is so deserves. The fact is, this is a Texas REALTOR issue. REALTORS are commanded by the code and fair housing to champion avenues to homeownership and homeownership related issues for all regardless of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

As REALTORS we are not provided a choice to subscribe or not subscribe to the Code of Ethics. So, I am concerned that the individual recipients that are in receipt currently and in the future do not adhere to one simple passage of our Code of Ethics. We need to champion the cause of Texas to be not only a great place to own a home, but also a great place to live for everyone and not just the privileged.

If we are to be advocates for homeownership for all (inclusive of those listed in Article 10), shouldn’t the monies paid by TREPAC be paid to recipients that not only will advance the REALTOR organization’s political agenda but also adhere to equally represent all Texas homeowners regardless of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity while not creating plans or agreements to discriminate against such persons? Or are we only truly concerned with the homeownership issues of the privileged Texans and opt to sweep the issues related to the protected under the rug?

No, I no longer give to TREPAC yet I have in the past. Even when paying my REALTOR association bills I have to go to extraordinary lengths to make sure that TREPAC donations are removed from the association’s already formalized bills. I do not give to TREPAC because TREPAC historically does not champion for all Texans, in my opinion. Giving to an organization that supports political candidates and politicians that are focusing efforts to remove rights and freedoms from my fellow Texans referenced in Article 10 concerns me greatly. Yes I want to support homeownership initiatives but not at the current cost.

As a member of six board (Austin Board of REALTORS, Williamson County Association of REALTORS, San Antonio Board of REALTORS, Houston Association of REALTORS, Four Rivers Association of REALTORS, and the Bryan-College Station Regional Association of REALTORS) I believe that they each should also adhere to the Article 10 rule in their PAC initiatives and that the people our local board support should also be held to as high of a standard as our REALTOR members.

I am open and honest with my colleges regarding my TREPAC views and will continue until all Texas REALTOR members are valued when TREPAC makes their political contributions and donations. As it stands now, for many REALTORS the choice to donate to TREPAC and fund a REALTOR Pac that supports the very candidates and politicians supporting and/or writing legislation against them is not a viable option.

The REALTOR community has such an unbelievable ability to effect positive change in this state. Holding TREPAC dollars to a higher level because they are in fact monies from members who must already support and defend Article 10 is an easy cause to champion. If the one who has the gold makes the rules, imagine how easy this would be to achieve with those who count on those earmarked dollars.

“With great privilege comes great responsibility.” Romans 9:1-8