The Political Affairs Advisory
Group, chaired by HAR Director Minnette Boesel, deserves a round of applause
for their role in producing the very successful HAR and InTown Houston
Chamber of
Commerce candidate forum on August 4 at the Jr. League Building. We thank
Directors Lorraine Abercrombie, Carlos Bujosa, Margie Dorrance, and HAR
Chair Toni Nelson for attending and supporting the event. The event drew
about 200 guests and was a HAR first!
The PAAG has met with City Council candidates, House District 143 candidates,
incumbent Houston City Council Members, and HCCS candidates on June 15,
June 22, June 29, August 3, and August 11. The PAAG's candidate recommendations
for the November 8 election will be provided to you at the August 15
Board of Directors meeting. Early voting begins October 24.
Jill Bagley with RE/MAX in Kingwood has offered to lead a Voter
Registration Drive. The September issue of the Houston Realtor
will include a Voter Registration Application which will be
good for any county in Texas.
On July 14 Toni Nelson chaired a local housing initiatives meeting to
learn more about Fannie Mae's Work Force Housing program. Also invited
to attend the meeting was Don Boehm of Houston ISD and Richard Rodriguez
of HPD. Toni has appointed Kenya Burrell to head up a Housing Assistance
Programs Task Force which will meet August 24 at 9:30 in the Large Conference
Room.
On July 19, Port of Houston Chairman Jim Edmonds was invited to update
HAR's commercial leadership on the proposed Dallas inland port. Port
of Houston Director of Trade Development John Horan is scheduled to
meet the group on the same topic on August 31 at noon. HAR's commercial
leadership will be invited to attend this working lunch.
Federal Political Coordinator John Nichols and his contact
team met with Congressman John Culberson on August 9. Federal issues
discussed with Congressman Culberson were small business health
plans, keeping banks out of real estate, and affordable housing
tax credits. NAR is encouraging all FPCs to meet with their federal
lawmakers during the August recess.
HAR was proud to sponsor the Houston Realty Breakfast
Club meeting on August 11 at the Jr. League Building where Congressman
Tom DeLay was the featured speaker.
At the state level, August 29 and 30 have been reserved to meet with
our state legislators who will be receiving "thank you" TREPAC
contributions: Bill Callegari, Al Edwards, Robert Eissler, Peggy Hamric,
Charlie Howard, John Otto, Debbie Riddle, Senfronia Thompson, Corbin
Van Arsdale, Tommy Williams, John Whitmire, and Beverly Woolley. Mark
Lehman, TAR's Director of Governmental Affairs, will be attending the
meeting.
