Every two years WeSERV engages with candidates running for local office: City, Town and County. Some chapters conduct candidate interviews, some chapters conduct forums. Either event may result in candidate endorsements and/or RAPAC funds being awarded.
WeSERV, AR, and NAR all have similar processes for candidate endorsement decisions. I can speak to WeSERV’s process since that is the process I am involved with. If you would like more information on the AR process or NAR process, I will be happy to make an email introduction or provide you the phone number for Matthew Contorelli (Government Affairs Director AR) or Jack Greacen, WeSERV’s Government Affairs Liaison at NAR.
At WeSERV we have a process that begins many months in advance of candidate interviews. First, we have a question bank I, the chapter Candidate Interview workgroups and the Government Affairs Committee add questions to that question bank each election cycle. Once new questions have been gathered, they are sent to NAR Campaign Services to be vetted by campaign professionals and attorneys. We do this so that we do not inadvertently ask a question inappropriately or lead candidates to a specific answer.
WeSERV members from each chapter that has chosen to interview candidates or conduct a forum, volunteer to be a part of the Candidate Interview Workgroup.
Who is Eligible to Serve on a WeSERV Candidate Interview Workgroup/Committee?
Any WeSERV member is eligible to participate as a Candidate Interview Workgroup member. There is a conflict of interest criteria, members interested in participating are only limited by excluding a race in which they have a direct conflict of interest.
Candidate Interview Workgroup formation is announced in the Chapter newsletter and at member meetings and events.
The Candidate Interview Workgroup interviews and analyzes candidates running for local office based on the candidate’s alignment with WeSERV principles, WeSERV Legislative Policy and the REALTOR® Party guidelines.
WeSERV Candidate Interview Workgroups may wish to recommend support in one of several ways:
- Endorsement
- Endorsement with funds
- Funds only
- No Action
Eligible WeSERV members are WeSERV members in good standing who:
- Are not candidates running for public office in the current election cycleAre not working for a candidate running for office in the current election cycle in a managerial, advisory or other key role within the campaign
- Are not closely related by family or business to a candidate running for office
- Are able to attend all candidate interviews
- Are willing and able to put aside personal preference and analyze candidate suitability for WeSERV support based on candidate’s alignment with WeSERV principles and Legislative Policy
- Are willing and able to invest time prior to interviews reading candidate questionnaires and relevant election information
- Are willing and able to discuss and make decisions of support or non-support relative to WeSERV’s best interest
- Do not have a conflict of interest
- Are familiar with the WeSERV Legislative Policy
Maricopa County election interviews are conducted by a committee of WeSERV members, Phoenix Association members, and Scottsdale Association members. Their process is similar to the WeSERV process. All members of the committee discussed and agreed on endorsement recommendations. The WeSERV Board of Directors selects the WeSERV members participating in the Maricopa County election interviews. Once the committee decides on their recommendations, each Association Board of Directors or Executive Committee approves the recommendations.
WeSERV Interview Questions and Criteria:
Once Candidate Interview Workgroup members have been selected and interview questions have been vetted, then questions are selected for both the candidate written questionnaire and the candidate oral questions.
The Candidate Written Questionnaire is designed to bring forth a candidate’s thought process and to elicit their thoughts and recognition of private property rights and right to private contract as bedrock principles on which real estate and business are dependent.
The Candidate Interview Oral Questions are selected from the approved question bank. Each Chapter Interview Workgroup selects the 10-12 questions they wish to ask candidates running for various offices. All interviewed candidates will be asked the selected questions for their office. Members of the Workgroup may, if time allows, follow up on a candidate’s written or oral responses for clarification.
WeSERV has separated contributions from endorsement. Candidates may be chosen for:
- REALTOR® Champion
- Endorsement only
- Endorsement with PAC funds granted
- Debt relief
- PAC Funds only, no Endorsement
- No action
Relationships established and honored over time are of importance. Therefore, WeSERV does not automatically endorse REALTORS®, nor do we automatically disqualify non licensees.
Candidate responses to oral and written questions are evaluated under the following criteria:
REALTOR® Champion:
REALOR® Champions are rare. WeSERV chooses Champions under particular circumstances because supporting a Champion means WeSERV has obligated itself to employ its resources; physical and monetary, in order to achieve election victory for the supported candidate. WeSERV is responsible to its membership to choose Champions judiciously.
REALTOR® Champions are evaluated on their personal alignment with WeSERV Legislative Policies as well as the nature of the race.
Champions are candidates whose presence in local government is important to WeSERV issues and relationships. Not only is the race very important, but the Champion is important as well. The committee/workgroup should be able to easily encourage other members to support the Champion candidate based on the WeSERV Legislative Policies and real estate issues.
Candidate Evaluation:
Putting aside individual interests in order to evaluate a candidate on behalf of the Association is difficult, yet critical to the Association candidate interview and endorsement process. In order to aid members sitting on the Candidate Interview Workgroup, WeSERV provides these evaluation questions as part of the deliberation and conversation:
- Does this candidate defend/support private property rights in all its forms?
- Does this candidate support/defend real estate ownership?
- Does this candidate support small business ownership and income preservation?
- Does this candidate support/defend the principle of voluntary private contract?
- Does this candidate support the preservation of the right to ethical business practices?
- Is this candidate in accordance (in word and deed) with the basic principles of the WeSERV Legislative Policies?
- Does the candidate oppose the tax shifting?
- Does the candidate support local military installations and their mission?
In addition to the above questions, the committee or workgroup evaluates the following:
- Is the race a critical race for WeSERV?
- Is the City/Town/County critical to WeSERV?
- Is this a critical time for WeSERV to weigh in?
- Are there critical issues?
- If the answer to the above four questions is “no”, then there cannot be a REALTOR® Champion.
There are some subjective criteria used, because in the end candidates must be attractive to voters from a personal point of view. These are the questions asked:
- Is the Candidate’s personality pleasing?
- Is the Candidate’s appearance professional?
- Is the Candidate’s electability high or low?
- Is the Candidate’s attitude positive or negative?
Training:
WeSERV conducts 1- 3 candidate interview trainings for the workgroup and committee members prior to candidate interview day. In those trainings’ members are able to review and finalize the oral questions, review the evaluation criteria, become familiar with the interview process and interview day schedule, ask for additional background information on candidates or events, confirm their eligibility to interview candidates, and confirm their ability to be available for all candidate interviews of a particular race.
Members who have a conflict of interest in a particular race will not be a part of the interviews or discussions in that race, but may participate in interviewing other races.
Members are provided the candidate written questionnaire responses several days prior to the interviews. Candidates who are invited to interview and do not return the written questionnaire in a timely manner are not interviewed.
Post Interview:
Once candidate interviews have been concluded, the Workgroup discusses and evaluates each candidate and the races. Their recommendations are noted by the Government Affairs Director (GAD) and submitted to the Executive Committee for approval.
The Executive Committee discusses the Workgroup recommendations and chooses to approve as recommended, change RAPAC funding amounts or disapprove the recommendation.
The Executive Committee’s decisions are forwarded to the Government Affairs Director. From there the GAD informs candidates and members of the decision.
If RAPAC funds are approved, then the GAD submits the request with candidate information to Arizona REALTORS® RAPAC Trustee Committee for approval. Once again, this committee may approve the recommendation, disapprove the recommendation or change the amount of PAC funds granted.
There are many steps involved in interviewing candidates, and members who volunteer to interview candidates give up between 1 and 5 business days to do so. Without them, WeSERV would be unable to interview candidates. WeSERV is limited in the number of races we can interview candidates for by the number of volunteers we have willing to give up time in their business to this task.
If you would like to participate in future candidate interviews and are a REALTOR® or Affiliate member of WeSERV, please let me know so that I can add you to the list of members to be contacted prior to the next election cycle. I will need to know your name, your NRDS number and your chapter. It would be helpful to know if you practice commercial real estate, residential real estate, business opportunities, or more than one niche.
In chapters who host forums, these same criteria apply if that chapter elects to endorse or provide RAPAC funds to candidates attending the forum.
WeSERV’s view of Candidate Interviews:
While most people think of candidate interviews in terms of money and endorsement, there is more to interviews than that.
WeSERV strives to create relationships with local government staffs and elected officials as well as other community and business organizations. We view candidate interviews as our opportunity to meet and get to know local community and business leaders.
Even if a candidate does not attain office, they are most likely active in their community. Meeting them and learning more about them frequently opens up opportunities for WeSERV to become more active in initiatives of importance to REALTORS®, their clients and small business.
Frequently, WeSERV becomes a resource for information to elected and non-elected leaders in the community. Our ability to showcase our member’s knowledge and expertise is a great benefit to all.
In the end, the Association endorsements are one tool you can use to evaluate candidates in your personal deliberation. You know the Association’s bias and limited inquiry, so you are better able to use that as a tool in your decision making.
Voting is a right, but with that right comes a responsibility to seek information from various sources, digest the information, weigh it against your own moral and ethical compass, and with discernment and prudence cast a wise vote.
I hope you will consider being a part of a Candidate Interview Workgroup at your chapter.