About TREPAC
The Texas Association of REALTORS® Political Action Committee (TREPAC) is a voluntary, nonprofit group of Texas REALTORS® and others interested in protecting the free rights of property ownership. The voluntary investments TREPAC receives are used to support candidates for federal, state, and local offices who demonstrate their support for the preservation of private-property rights and the real estate profession.
Volunteer trustees lead the PAC and approve all contributions to political candidates and officials. These dedicated Texas REALTORS® hail from all regions of the state.
History of Texas Association of REALTORS® Political Action Committee (TREPAC)
In the late 1960s, some of the directors and officers of TAR decided that a way must be found to bring the legislative and political needs of our association to the attention of the members of the legislature and other state officials.
The association urged local boards to form breakfast clubs to meet with both state and local officials to let them know our position on legislative matters. At the same time, a state association committee was formed and the members of TAR were urged to send investments to a state fund. The first year was not a resounding financial success with something less than $900 being invested. The local effort was more successful and most of the principal cities organized breakfast clubs and collected funds for local use.
In 1972, TAR took a lesson from local successes and formed TREPAC/Texas Association of REALTORS® Political Action Committee. In and through coordination with the local committees, the PAC raised a total of $17,250 from 923 investors.
Due to possible conflicts in the laws governing political activity by a tax exempt corporation, the TAR directors voted in 1974 to approve the formation of TREPAC/Texas Association of REALTORS® Political Action Committee as a separate organization. The PAC, as we know it today, has become more successful each year and is considered by NAR to be one of the model PACs of the nation.
1. What is TREPAC?
The PAC is a voluntary, nonprofit, unincorporated group whose membership consists of REALTORS® and others interested in protecting the free rights of property ownership in Texas and the United States. As a political action committee, TREPAC complies with all federal and state campaign contribution laws. The voluntary investments the PAC receives are used to support candidates for federal, state, and local office who demonstrate their support for the preservation of real property rights and the real estate profession.
2. Who sponsors TREPAC?
The PAC is sponsored by the Texas Association of REALTORS® (TAR). TAR provides the professional staff and office facilities required to maintain the PAC.
3. Who administers TREPAC?
A 41-member Board of Trustees is responsible for all PAC operations and financial disbursements. The PAC consists of 37 Trustees selected from each of the TAR regions, three additional Trustees that serve as Chairman, Vice Chair, and the Immediate Past Chair, along with a Trustee who is also the TAR Chairman. Each Trustee must be approved by the TAR Board of Directors.
4. Who may join TREPAC?
The PAC membership is open to any individual who wishes to invest financially. It is important to note, however, that the PAC may solicit investments from REALTORS®, affiliate members, families of members, and staff.
5. Where do your TREPAC dollars go?
All funds eligible to be invested in candidates in political races are expended for that purpose. Thirty percent of the annual investments received by TREPAC, until quota is achieved, is forwarded to NAR's REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) for use in federal campaigns in Texas and throughout the country. In this manner, the PAC participates in the political process at the national level where a multitude of legislative issues threaten real property rights and the real estate industry daily. Of the balance of TREPAC's funds, 50% will be invested in candidates for state legislative office and certain statewide offices in Texas. The final 20% is designated for candidates in local races as requested by the local board or association.
6. Does TREPAC make endorsements as well as investments?
No. The Trustees believe that their purpose is to invest dollars and the PAC is perceived by the general public to be one and the same as TAR. Therefore, the PAC believes that only the TAR Board of Directors can make a formal endorsement or commitment of the general membership for a candidate.
7. Who decides which candidates receive TREPAC support?
SABOR's Governmental Affairs Committee interviews candidates and makes recommendations as to which candidates should receive campaign investments from the PAC. These recommendations are reviewed and acted upon by the PAC board of Trustees. The PAC supports candidates who share our concern for preserving the free enterprise system, real property rights, and the real estate industry.
8. Does TREPAC often invest in several candidates in the same race?
Historically, the Trustees have been very reluctant to invest in more than one candidate in the same race. If it is an open race (no incumbent), the PAC might invest in both primaries, hoping that a friend of the REALTORS® will be successful in at least one primary.
9. What is a "friendly incumbent"?
It is a current officeholder who has been receptive to REALTORS® needs. Generally, the Trustees look at the incumbent's voting record or committee record, and if perceived to be friendly to REALTORS®, will recommend contributing to his or her candidacy.
10. Which political party does TREPAC support?
The PAC is not affiliated with any political party. The program and platform of the individual candidates, board recommendations, and ultimate action by the PAC Trustees determine whom the PAC supports-not the candidate's party affiliation.
11. How are TREPAC investments delivered to candidates?
SABOR's Board of Directors traditionally invites the candidates to the Board to receive their PAC support. In many cases, the check is presented to the candidates prior to the BOD or Executives Committees' meeting.
12. Is TREPAC/Texas Association of REALTORS® Political Action Committee a success?
Yes. The PAC does indeed have a proven track record. Since its inception in 1972, the PAC has supported thousands of candidates for the Texas Legislature and the U.S. Congress. The PAC annually has approximately 30% of its members who invest their funds to be used for political purposes to benefit property owners and the real estate industry. TREPAC is now the largest political action committee in Texas.
13. Is TREPAC a grassroots effort?
The PAC knows of no other organization that's more of a grassroots effort than our political action committee. You, as an investor, have a voice through the recommendation process. Trustees, all active in real estate, volunteer their time to come together and act for the membership. No single person can ever commit the PAC to a candidate. The PAC permits individuals the opportunity to become involved in helping to shape government and society.
14. What can you do about the government's expanding restrictions on your real estate brokerage businesses? Get involved in the political/governmental process. How?
The PAC and the Texas Association of REALTORS® effectively coordinate their respective legislative efforts with the PAC actively participating in political campaigns and TAR maintaining an effective lobbying effort. The two efforts go hand-in-hand, and neither can be effective without the other.
The government's role in your business has been steadily increasing on all levels. At the federal level, agencies such as The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have greatly increased their activity in areas of affirmative marketing, flood plain regulation, land sales disclosure, and environmental issues. Local boards are closely scrutinized by the Justice Department's antitrust division. In the name of energy conservation, Congress has seriously considered passing legislation that would require any home in the U.S. to meet a federal energy conservation building code before it could be sold.
On the state level, county governments continue to lobby for ordinance-making authority and environmental regulation. Tenant organizations continue to press for the enactment of legislation that would allow a tenant to withhold rent payments while demanding the landlord to make improvements. The state continues to increase regulations on the individuals involved in the real estate profession. The list goes on and on.
If we are to maintain a healthy climate for the real estate industry in Texas by preserving real property rights as they exist today, REALTORS® must participate in the political process-through the PAC. TAR's lobbying efforts in Austin and Washington cannot be effective unless we are able to elect individuals to public office who share our concerns.
It costs money to run for public office, and it is becoming more expensive all the time. Every candidate requires financial assistance to get his or her message before the voting public. This is why the PAC was formed-to help candidates who support the rights of real property ownership to get elected.
We have an obligation to our profession, friends, and family to participate in the political process.
