After 32 years of service to the association and its members, Mike Scobey, the Illinois REALTORS® Director of Local Advocacy will retire at the end of year.

For the past three decades, Mike has been at the forefront of the association’s advocacy efforts. He joined Illinois REALTORS® in 1989 as a local Governmental Affairs Director, that was even before the GAD program formally existed.

Mike Scobey

“Mike has been an embodiment to loyalty and service to all Illinois REALTORS® by dedicating over 30 years to this association,” said Jeff Baker, Illinois REALTORS’® CEO.

“So many of the local advocacy wins over the years are directly attributable to the program that Mike has helped create and lead. Our local GAD program is a model for states across the country, thanks in large part to Mike’s involvement.”

Coordinating between the association’s statehouse lobbying team and other local lobbyists, Mike helped communicate association policies and priorities from the state to the local level.

He excelled in the position so much so that his role became the impetus for the creation of the state’s GAD program. Following Scobey, other GAD’s were hired and Scobey began to take on the role of manager of the GAD team throughout the state.

“Mike’s role as it relates to the GAD program was so much more than manager,” according to Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs Greg St. Aubin.

“Mike’s management and then connection to the statehouse lobbying team is what helped unify and strengthen the REALTOR® advocacy program to truly be statewide and effective as it is today.”

Over the course of his time with Illinois REALTORS®, Mike has assisted the state and local associations confront some of the most high-profile public policy issues affecting the real estate industry. He has helped lead or assist GADs on multiple issues affecting property rights that ultimately were only resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court, including issues like local impact fees, REALTOR® sign ordinances and local eminent domain powers.

In addition to helping create a more unified and efficient public policy advocacy program, Mike’s work for the association also included helping to launch the state association’s political involvement programs.

Before there was even a coordinated national political campaign program, Mike, together with senior Illinois staff, began REALTOR®-led ballot initiatives and helped increase the influence of REALTORS® during local and statewide elections.

St. Aubin, who has worked with Mike during his entire tenure said: “We owe Mike such gratitude for helping to make Illinois REALTORS® what it is today. He is going to be missed greatly.”

More information on Scobey’s successor and the future of the Illinois REALTORS® GAD program will be provided in the coming weeks.