Wisconsin REALTORS® Association: Message from the CEO

Message from the CEO

The power of your voice: why REALTOR® engagement matters in advocacy

 Tom Larson, WRA President & CEO  |    March 03, 2025
CEO24

As REALTORS®, we understand the power of communication. Every day, we help clients navigate one of the most significant financial decisions of their lives. We advocate for their interests, guide them through challenges, and ensure they achieve the best possible outcome. Advocacy is at the core of what we do — not just in transactions but also in shaping policies that affect the real estate industry.

While the WRA has a dedicated team of professional lobbyists working daily to educate lawmakers about critical issues such as property rights, housing affordability and free markets, there is one thing they cannot do: tell your stories. Trained lobbyists can explain the legal and policy implications of proposed legislation, but only REALTORS® can provide firsthand accounts about how these issues impact real people in real estate transactions. This is why your direct engagement with elected officials is not only valuable — it is essential.

Why REALTOR® voices matter

Legislators rely on personal stories to fully grasp the impact of their decisions. When a bill is debated, statistics and expert testimony are important, but nothing is more compelling than hearing directly from constituents about how a law or policy will affect their business, their clients and their communities. Whether it is a first-time homebuyer struggling with affordability due to high property taxes, a small investor hindered by burdensome short-term rental regulations, or a seller facing unexpected transaction delays due to local time-of-sale inspections, your experiences bring these issues to life in a way that no report or dataset can.

By engaging with your elected representatives, you help bridge the gap between policy and reality. Your conversations can influence decisions, shape legislation and protect the interests of property owners and the real estate industry.

Join us for REALTOR® & Government Day

The single most impactful opportunity for Wisconsin REALTORS® to engage with their elected officials is REALTOR® & Government Day (RGD) in Madison on April 17. On this day, REALTORS® from every corner of the state, with diverse backgrounds and political beliefs, come together to speak with one voice at the state Capitol.

RGD symbolizes the strength of our membership, our reach into every community, and our collective knowledge of the issues that matter to property owners and the industry. It is a day when company affiliations and political differences take a back seat to a shared commitment to real estate advocacy. The only thing that matters on RGD is that you are here and that you are a REALTOR®.

This is your chance to make an impact. Your presence at RGD sends a powerful message to lawmakers that REALTORS® are engaged, informed and ready to stand up for their profession and their clients. So mark your calendar for April 17, join us in Madison, and let your voice be heard. Because when REALTORS® speak, policymakers listen.

Tom Larson
WRA President & CEO

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