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WASHINGTON (May 12, 2020) – Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel participated in the 2020 REALTORS® Virtual Legislative Meetings on Tuesday afternoon as part of NAR’s annual Federal Legislative and Political Forum. Christie and Emanuel considered the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the 2020 elections while addressing issues impacting real estate as the nation begins to emerge from lockdown orders.
“In a major election year – and in the midst of a global pandemic – NAR’s collaboration at every level of government becomes more important than ever,” said NAR President Vince Malta, broker at Malta & Co., Inc., in San Francisco, CA. “We’d like to thank Governor Christie and Mayor Emanuel for joining us today. And as we look to ensure that every policy change helps position real estate to lead in America’s economic recovery, furthering these conversations with lawmakers remains key to the future of our industry.”
Content from the 2020 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings is being offered at no cost to NAR members, ensuring all of America’s 1.4 million Realtors® are able to engage in and benefit from this week’s conference sessions. This year marks the first virtual iteration of NAR’s legislative meetings, which bring around 10,000 Realtors® to Washington, D.C every May. Nearly 20,000 had registered as of Tuesday morning.
“I was glad to join NAR to discuss the coronavirus pandemic and the 2020 national election today, which are both vitally important because of the impact both have had and will have on the future of the American economy,” said Christie, who served as New Jersey’s Governor from 2010-2018. “I look forward to continuing to have these discussions with the real estate industry to help move our country forward.”
Emanuel, a Democrat who also served as White House Chief of Staff for President Obama, offered his perspective on presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s vice-presidential selection process.
“It’s a political decision as much as it is a personal decision,” the 55th mayor of Chicago said of the choice before Vice President Biden. “You’re going to try to figure out, does this political strength match up with what I need in September and October to win?”
As a new President, Emanuel said, “You’re going to get up from the Cabinet Room and walk into the Oval Office. Your staff is going to be divided and your cabinet is going to be divided… But when you walk into that room, what person is going to follow you? A selection of a Vice President… is [about] a partnership, and that’s something that only one person can vet.”
NAR Political and Legislative Forum Chair John Blom moderated Tuesday’s discussion, alongside Vice-Chair Matt Silver
The National Association of Realtors® is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.4 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
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