Constitutional Amendments - Of the nine constitutional amendments which will go before Texas voters on Nov. 8, TAR is recommending support for Propositions 5 and 7. Proposition 5 is the constitutional amendment providing for the clearing of land title by relinquishing and releasing any state claim to sovereign ownership or title to interest in certain land in Upshur County and in Smith County. Proposition 7 is the constitutional amendment authorizing line-of-credit advances under a reverse mortgage.

Commercial Gateway-Port of Houston
The announcement of a proposed Dallas inland port in the Dallas Business Journal created a certain amount of angst among commercial members. At the invitation of HAR's Governmental Affairs Director, Port of Houston Authority Chairman Jim Edmonds met with HAR's commercial leadership on July 29. The group met with John Horan, the Port of Houston's Director of Trade Development, on August 31. The group expressed interest in an update from the Port of Houston on port security, and a meeting on port security will be held later this year.

Commercial Gateway-Port of Houston
The announcement of a proposed Dallas inland port in the Dallas Business Journal created a certain amount of angst among commercial members. At the invitation of HAR's Governmental Affairs Director, Port of Houston Authority Chairman Jim Edmonds met with HAR's commercial leadership on July 29. The group met with John Horan, the Port of Houston's Director of Trade Development, on August 31. The group expressed interest in an update from the Port of Houston on port security, and a meeting on port security will be held later this year.

Housing Assistance Programs Task Force
Toni Nelson appointed Kenya Burrell to chair the newly formed Housing Assistance Programs Task Force as a result of the July 14 Housing Initiatives meeting with Fannie Mae. On August 24, members of the Housing Initiatives Committee, interested members from the Political Affairs Advisory Group and Governmental Affairs Advisory Group, Kathleen Randall from the Greater Houston Partnership, Sheila Astley from the Houston-Intown Chamber of Commerce, and Dianne Johnson President of the Houston Independent School District attended a lunchtime presentation with speakers J.J. Smith and Patricia Neal from Fannie Mae. During the meeting, the Fannie Mae representatives explained the benefits of employer assisted housing (EAH) and gave background information on the programs they are currently running. The Arizona Association of Realtors has a similar program, and Committee Chair Kenya Burrell has been in contact with the Palm Beach Association to learn more about the success and failure rate. Freeport was cited as having an EAH program for police officers and firefighters.
The Fannie Mae representatives will have training dates for Realtors in the fourth quarter and plan on keeping in contact. Their Web site is also being developed and will have more information in the near future, as well as local examples. General feeling for the program was enthusiastic. The next meeting date has not been set.

Post Session TREPAC "Thank You" Contributions
Houston area state senators and representatives met with their State Contact Team Members on August 29 for updates on the legislative process and to receive TREPAC contributions. Legislators and Contact Team Members were joined by Daniel Gonzalez and Craig Chick of TAR's Governmental Affairs Department and by Dana Kaufman. Contact Team Members met with State Representatives Bill Callegari, Al Edwards, Rob Eissler, Peggy Hamric, Debbie Riddle, Corbin Van Arsdale, and State Senator John Whitmire. Contact Teams are comprised of Realtor volunteers who are directly involved with assisting TAR and HAR in meeting their legislative goals. If you are interested in participating on a Contact Team, please contact your Governmental Affairs Department at 713.629.1900 ext. 223 or via e-mail at dana.kaufman@har.com.

March 6, 2006 Election Activity
Senator Jon Lindsay's announcement that he will not seek reelection to the Senate District 7 seat has created a flurry of political maneuvering. Reps. Peggy Hamric and Joe Nixon have announced their candidacy for SD 7 as has term-limited Houston Councilman Mark Ellis and KSEV (AM 700) radio personality Dan Patrick. In addition, former SBISD Trustee Barbara Larson announced her candidacy for Rep. Nixon's seat, HD 133, and she is scheduled to meet with Dana Kaufman and PAAG Chair Minnette Boesel on September 16 at 10:00 a.m. Michael Schofield, former assistant general counsel to Gov. Rick Perry, has thrown his hat into the HD 133 race by announcing his candidacy on September 13. HAR member and HCCS Trustee, Jim Murphy, Executive Director of the Westchase District, is also rumored to be running for the HD 133 seat. Rumored to be vying for Rep. Hamric's House District 126 seat or Senator Lindsay's Senate 7 seat is businesswoman Patricia Harless.

2006 Political Leadership
Incoming HAR Chair Fred Baca has named former TAR President John Nichols Political Affairs Advisory Group Chair, Minnette Boesel Governmental Affairs Advisory Group Chair, and Vicki Fullerton TREPAC Chair. We congratulate HAR's incoming Director, Patrick Luby, who was approved at the TAR Convention in Corpus Christi to serve as HAR's representative on TAR's Political Communications Subcommittee for the 2006-2007 term. We thank outgoing PCS representative David Schwarz for his service as HAR's representative on the PCS 2004-2005. We welcome TAR President Dennis Patillo's leadership in 2006!