Advocacy & Outreach

The Northwest Indiana REALTORS® Association (NIRA) has long committed staff and resources for governmental affairs. We believe advocacy and lobby efforts are essential to protecting our profession and the environment in which we work in.

While our staff and committed volunteers do a superb job of keeping track of upcoming legislation that may affect the real estate industry, we occasionally receive tips from members who are not generally involved with our government affairs activities but have encountered issues that need to be addressed by NIRA.

If you encounter legislation that could possibly affect our industry, whether good or bad, please contact our Government Affairs Department, Joe Wszolek, Chief Operating Officer: (219) 795-3502.

 

 

What is RPAC?

NIRA is committed to protecting the real estate industry and increasing access to homeownership. Our staff works for you to build relationships where local legislation is made, and positively influence public policies that impact your business.  More simply, we have your back so you can focus on your business.

The REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC), established in 1969, advocates on behalf of REALTORS® and real estate issues that protect your livelihood.  RPAC is member driven and non-partisan in its selection of candidates to endorse.

From city hall to the state house to the U.S. Capitol, our elected officials are making decisions that have a huge impact on your bottom line, and that of your clients.

RPAC has been successful on many issues, such as keeping sales tax on services (your income) at bay at the Indiana statehouse, but we know there are still more on the horizon. NIRA continues to monitor emerging issues like this, and more, going forward.

We need your help to continue making ‘Advocacy Wins’.  Your voluntary investments in RPAC help to support those candidates for elected office who are in the best position to make the decisions that support the real estate industry.  Please ‘Click Here’ to make a difference in your future by making an RPAC investment today!

 

 

RPAC Trustees

The RPAC Trustees are responsible for allocating local political resources, including RPAC dollars, to support REALTOR® friendly candidates seeking office in Northwest Indiana.  Each Trustee is expected to have an interest in the issues and political climate of the area they represent.

The RPAC Trustees is comprised of trained RPAC investor NIRA members or affiliate members who have a history of being engaged in the political process, are unbiased and represent various communities and unincorporated areas throughout Lake, Porter, Newton, Jasper, Starke and Pulaski counties.

Trustees are appointed for staggered, four (4) year terms with three (3) Trustee terms expiring each year.  There are no term limits.   

                                                                                               

2024 Chair Brenda Miley thru 2025
2024 Vice-Chair Megan Cecil thru 2025
Member Saba Mohammed thru 2024
Member Jay Harrigan thru 2024
Member Judy Rooney-Davis thru 2024
Member Antje Gehrken thru 2025
Member Edith Cothran thru 2026
Member Claudia M Forrest thru 2026
Member Dave Conley thru 2026
Member Nathan Reeder thru 2027
Member Kathy Boswell thru 2027
Member Brent Wright thru 2027
RPAC Impact

How does RPAC make an impact on issues that affect the real estate industry, your clients, and your business?

  • Move to Indiana Campaign

If you haven’t heard about it yet, the Move to Indiana Campaign is a hot topic within the Northwest Indiana real estate industry. The mission of the campaign is to encourage Illinois residents to move to Northwest Indiana.

If you haven’t seen the site yet, go check it out at movetoindiana.com.

As one of the founding sponsors, NIRA’s logo proudly leads site visitors directly to our Multiple Listing Service where they can browse the local market and search for a REALTOR® with the hope they will ultimately cross the border to Indiana.

Sponsorship opportunities are available to any interested real estate company. If you’re interested in taking advantage of this awesome opportunity, contact the South Shore Visitors Authority at 219-554-2226 for more information.

  • Land Use initiative- Munster

Your NIRA Government Affairs Committee, ever watchful for issues that have an impact upon the Northwest Indiana real estate market, became aware of a recent issue when the Town of Munster attempted to revise their zoning code to limit the types of businesses that could located within the town.  The committee is pleased to report it was successful in utilizing the National Association of REALTORS® Land Use Initiative member benefit as a resource for the members of the Munster Town Council which ultimately led to their decision to remove the proposal from consideration.

The Land Use Initiative is a program designed to assist state and local REALTOR® Associations in their public policy advocacy of land-use issues. Upon request, NAR will provide expert analysis of the legal, planning, economic and environmental issues surrounding legislative and regulatory land-use proposals. The initiative has helped state and local REALTOR® Associations across the country deal with a variety of land-use and Smart Growth issues. NAR, through its consultant, has provided guidance and expert opinion on more than 800 different legislative and regulatory issues that effect the interest of REALTORS®.

Click the link below for a copy of the letter presented to Munster Town Council President Joe Simonetto that included specifics from the Land Use Initiative legal team’s analysis and ultimately led to the removal of the proposed ordinance from consideration.

NAR Land use Initiatve Memo to Munster Town Council 2017.