Forced dues for campaign legal, 'wrong'
North Carolina elections board orders stronger reporting requirements
By Inman News, Tuesday, March 30, 2010.North Carolina's State Board of Elections ruled that the North Carolina Association of Realtors did not break the law when it forced members to pay dues used to fund an anti-tax campaign, Greensboro's News & Record newspaper reported this month.
The board dismissed a case brought against the association by Wake County Realtor Becky Harper in a 5-0 vote. Before the dismissal, however, the board instituted stronger reporting requirements for money raised and spent in support of county referendums, the paper said.
The board also said the association may have been "morally wrong" in requiring members to assess a one-time dues payment of $70 for an issues advocacy fund directed against an increase to a land transfer tax.
"I think when you deprive an individual of (the) ability to earn a living because (he or she) differ(s) with you on a political issue, that's morally wrong," said Larry Leake, chairman of the board, after the hearing.
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Submitted by Barrett Powell on March 30, 2010 - 8:00am.
As a member of the North Carolina Association of Realtors, I too was forced to pay the $70 towards the advocacy fund. I felt whether you agreed with the position on the transfer tax or not, the contribution should have been voluntary and not mandatory.
The transfer tax issue also deeply divided our community. I was against the transfer tax, but my reasons were not necessarily the same as the Association's. I felt a transfer tax was not a reliable source of funding, especially if there was a downturn in the economy. Well, guess what happened? Had my County passed the transfer tax to fund things like schools, the current economic downturn would have been devastating to the current budget.
I think the Association injured our image as Realtors the way the campaign was handled. It was an across the board statewide campaign that made Realtors out to be more concerned with OUR bottom line than that of our communities. I think those like myself who were against the transfer tax in our local communities were better positioned to provide reasons not to support the transfer tax. We could have done this not as Realtors, but as residents and on our own level for our own communities.
Instead we (The Association) came out looking like an all powerful lobby for the rich Realtors.
Barrett Powell, Owner/Broker/Consultant
Southern Advantage Companies
RSA Software & Consulting
288 East Street, PO Box 1427
Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312
http://www.REMAXChatham.com
http://wbarrettpowell.wordpress.com
barrett.powell - Skype
wbarrettpowell@gmail.com