By Jeff Carson, KCRAR Director of Kansas REALTOR® Advocacy
In 2025, KCRAR made significant strides in strengthening REALTOR® advocacy and expanding our influence at the local, state and national levels.
One of our most impactful achievements was the successful merger of the Kansas and Missouri Advocacy Committees into a single, unified Public Policy Committee. This strategic alignment was designed to strengthen REALTOR® advocacy efforts across the region while maintaining a strong focus on local issues within the KC Metro area and chapter territories. By working together as one voice, we are better positioned to engage decision-makers and advance policies that support property ownership and a healthy housing market.
Our fundraising efforts saw new growth through the Flashback with RPAC auction and the Winter Wonderland auction held in conjunction with the annual KCRAR Holiday Party and Awards Event. We raised more than $80,000. These successful events underscore the growing importance of RPAC and our collective commitment to supporting candidates who align with REALTOR® priorities and our initiatives.
Community engagement remained a cornerstone of our work. KCRAR was awarded a National Association of REALTORS® grant benefiting the community of Stanberry, Missouri. The grant funds were used to install new lighting in the city park, enhancing safety and usability for residents. We are grateful to the REALTORS® who stepped forward to support this worthwhile project, which reflects the strength of our brand and our commitment to serving communities of all sizes.
We also partnered with the Women’s Council of REALTORS® to host a mayoral forum that brought together mayors from four cities to engage directly with our members. This forum provided valuable insight into the progress happening across our region and highlighted ways REALTORS® can collaborate with local leaders to help shape housing-related policy decisions that impact our communities.
At the state level, members traveled to Topeka and Jefferson City in coordination with Kansas REALTORS® and Missouri REALTORS® to advocate for key real estate issues and support important state initiatives. These efforts ensured that the REALTOR® voice was heard where policy decisions are made.
Federally, our members traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with members of Congress on issues critical to the real estate industry. We are fortunate to have three dedicated Federal Political Coordinators: Andrew Mall, FPC for Congresswoman Sharice David; Jennifer Justus, FPC for Congressman Sam Graves; and Dan O’Neill, FPC for Congressman Emanuel Cleaver. The strong relationships our members maintain with their elected officials are vital in helping policymakers understand how housing policy decisions made in Washington directly affect our members and the consumers we serve across Kansas and Missouri.
Finally, in November we welcomed James Toy to the KCRAR Advocacy Department as our new Senior Vice President. We look forward to continuing to expand our reach and impact under his leadership as we work to influence sound public policy across all KCRAR territories.
We extend our sincere thanks to all members who attended events, contributed to RPAC, and advocated on behalf of the association at the local, state and national levels. REALTOR® advocacy is truly a team effort, and we are proud to have such a dedicated and engaged team at KCRAR.
