Illinois REALTORS® Local Governmental Affairs Directors (GADs) Kristie Engerman, Tom Joseph, Jeff Merrinette and Joe Roth are taking political recruitment to the next level.

The group, along with Illinois REALTORS® Manager of Advocacy Programs Alex Finke, used their combined experience to create a REALTOR® Party Candidate Training Program. Twenty-five REALTORS® from across Illinois participated in the live, online events that provided the tools necessary to successfully launch a run for elected office.

“REALTORS® make excellent candidates and elected officials; they know their neighbors, they know their markets and they know the meaning of public service,” said Joe Roth, Illinois REALTORS® local GAD covering Chicago’s northern suburbs and Northeast Illinois.

Session topics included electoral strategy, budgeting, writing a campaign plan, fundraising, recruiting and training volunteers, paid and earned media and Get Out The Vote (GOTV). The Illinois REALTORS® staff who designed the program have decades of combined experience in politics and winning campaigns.

REALTORS® who participated shared that they are interested in running for positions on county boards, village boards and park district boards in upcoming local elections. Illinois REALTORS® supports REALTOR® members running for office in several ways, including trainings like these. To learn more, please visit Illinois REALTORS® Advocacy page or contact your local governmental affairs director.