On November 2, the DCAR Public Policy Committee and DCAR Affordable Housing Subcommittee hosted “Vision Forward: Molding the Future of Housing in The District.” Watch highlights of the event:

The event included a “fireside chat” with At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds and an informative roundtable discussion featuring the following organizations:

• African American Real Estate Professionals (AAREP DC)
• the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA DC Chapter)
• the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance
• the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP DC)
• National Association of Real Estate Brokers
• Women’s Council of Realtors Greater Capital Area

This was the first time ever that DCAR has brought together all of these organizations to facilitate open dialogue about the challenges experienced by their members regarding housing and housing policy, with the goal of creating a better future for our region.

We thank DCAR Public Policy Committee Chair Anthony Graham and Vice Chair Hillary Nash for orchestrating this entire event, including bringing together our partner organizations together. And thanks to those partner organizations, as well as Councilmember Bonds and all of our DCAR members who helped to make it a success!

On December 14, we installed our 2023 DCAR leadership team, with Tony Mancuso as our 2023 president. Thank you to everyone who attended our Annual Meeting & Installation and helped make it a success!

We are proud to present your 2023 leadership team:

Executive Committee

President: Anthony Mancuso
President-elect: Stacey Barton
Secretary: Sam Medvene
Treasurer: Colin Johnson
Immediate Past President: Thomas Daley

Directors
Harrison Beacher
April Contee
Jennifer Frewer
Jean Poitevien
Bonnie Roberts-Burke
Annemarie Stephens
Ansa Tyus

GCAAR president
Avi Adler

Presidential appointees
Anthony Graham
Hillary Nash

Public Policy Committee Chair
Anthony Graham

CEO – Ex-officio
Scott Reiter

Thank you to 2022 President Thomas Daley and the entire 2022 board for your contributions. We are confident 2023 will be another year of successes!

Do you have a passion for public policy? Or a desire to work with local policymakers to consider measures that make a difference in your community? Now is your chance to apply to serve on the District of Columbia Association of REALTORS®’ Public Policy Committee!

The Public Policy Committee works with the DCAR Government Affairs team to analyze pending and proposed legislation in D.C. It establishes DCAR’s official stance on a variety of issues and ensures the association’s advocacy presence in the District.

Applicants should have an understanding of local legislation and politics. Selected committee members will be expected to actively participate in DCAR events, initiatives and activities at the Wilson Building.

The deadline to submit your application is Thursday, December 8. Additional information on the committee and committee requirements can be found on the application.

All 10 candidates endorsed by the District of Columbia Association of REALTORS® are projected to win.* DCAR supported the following candidates:

• U.S. Congress: Eleanor Holmes Norton, PROJECTED WINNER
• Mayor: Muriel Bowser, PROJECTED WINNER
• Attorney General: Brian Schwalb, PROJECTED WINNER
• Council Chairman: Phil Mendelson, PROJECTED WINNER
• Council At-Large: Anita Bonds, PROJECTED WINNER
• Council At-Large: Kenyan McDuffie, PROJECTED WINNER
• Council, Ward 3: Matthew Frumin, PROJECTED WINNER
• Council, Ward 5: Zachary Parker, PROJECTED WINNER
• Council, Ward 6: Charles Allen, PROJECTED WINNER
• State Board of Education, Ward 3: Eric Goulet, PROJECTED WINNER

DCAR’s REALTOR® Party Action Committee (RPAC) Trustees thank those DCAR members who have invested in RPAC, which has enabled us to produce and distribute information in support of our endorsed candidates.

* PLEASE NOTE: Election results remain unofficial until the Board of Elections certifies the ballots. 

Frederic Bates served as DCAR’s 2021 president and has served on the Executive Committee since 2018. He was a principal broker with eXp Commercial & eXp Realty in Virginia and is licensed to practice real estate in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.

Fred has been active in DCAR for many years, having served on the Board of Directors beginning in 2014. Additionally, he served on the DCAR Public Policy Committee from 2013 to 2015 and the National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors in 2021. Fred has also been active in the Washington, D.C. community. He served as a board member for the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL) and is a Founder of Friends of Gompers Park and a Founder of Friends of 10th Street Park.

Fred earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Saint Louis University.

Recently, DCAR board member Jean Poitevien testified before a D.C. Council committee on the implementation of a 2020 law that established the Department of Buildings (DOB) and went into effect on Oct. 1. The law is the result of the Council splitting the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) into two separate entities: the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection and the DOB.

Poitevien noted the important interactions DCAR members have had with DCRA over the years and the challenges members have faced. He expressed DCAR’s desire to work with the new District agencies to improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of government processes in the real estate industry.

We are honored to announce the candidates for our 2023 DCAR Board of Directors! In compliance with Article IX, Section 1 of our District of Columbia Association of REALTORS® (DCAR) bylaws, the DCAR Nominating Committee has nominated the following individuals to offices on the 2023 board, as indicated, subject to their election by the membership.

The election will be held during our DCAR Annual Meeting and Installation on Wednesday, December 14 at 7 p.m. at Ciel Social Club. Registration details are coming soon.

SLATE OF OFFICERS AS PRESENTED BY THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Officers

• President-elect: Stacey Barton, RLAH Real Estate
• Secretary: Sam Medvene, Century 21 Redwood Realty

At-large directors up for election, two-year term:

(four to be elected)

• Jennifer Frewer, Keller Williams Capital Properties
• Margaret “Ansa” Tyus, Re/MAX Allegiance
• Annemarie Stephens, Samson Properties
• Harrison Beacher, Keller Williams Capital Properties

NAR directors up for election, one-year term

(four to be elected)

• Stacey Barton, RLAH Real Estate
• Thomas Daley, Keller Williams Capital Properties
• Anthony Mancuso, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
• Sam Medvene, Century 21 Redwood Realty

RETURNING BOARD MEMBERS

Officers

• Immediate past president: Thomas Daley, Keller Williams Capital Properties
• President: Anthony Mancuso, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
• Treasurer: Colin Johnson, RLAH Real Estate

Other directors currently serving their two-year term:

• April Contee, EXQ Real Estate
• Jean Poitevien, AFREM Services
• Bonnie Roberts-Burke, RLAH Real Estate

Presidential appointees (2): To be determined

Public Policy Committee chair: To be determined

GCAAR president: Avi Adler, Long & Foster Real Estate

Chief executive officer (ex-officio): Scott Reiter

ADDITIONAL BOARD NOMINATIONS

Additional candidates for these offices can be nominated by a petition signed by at least 5% of DCAR’s REALTOR® members and emailed to Scott Reiter, sreiter@dcrealtors.org. Petitions must be received by Friday, November 11, 2022.

Thank you in advance for your participation in our upcoming election!

Mayor Muriel Bowser, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Council Chairman Phil Mendelson among endorsed candidates for Nov. 8 general election

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The District of Columbia Association of REALTORS® (DCAR) has endorsed Mayor Muriel Bowser and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton for re-election, Brian Schwalb for D.C. Attorney General, as well as six candidates who are competing in the D.C. Council’s November 8 general election – including Council Chairman Phil Mendelson. DCAR also endorsed one candidate for state Board of Education.

The selected candidates for the races are:

• U.S. Congress – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton
• Mayor – Muriel Bowser
• D.C. Attorney General – Brian Schwalb
• Council Chairman – Phil Mendelson
• Council At-Large – Anita Bonds
• Council At-Large – Kenyan McDuffie
• Ward 1 – No endorsement
• Ward 3 – Matthew Frumin
• Ward 5 – Zachary Parker
• Ward 6 – Charles Allen
• State Board of Education, Ward 3 – Eric Goulet

Since the June primary election, DCAR’s REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) Trustees have continued to vet candidates to understand their vision and priorities for Washington, D.C. The member-led committee was moved by the ideas the endorsed candidates shared.

This election is a watershed moment for the District. We are moving into an endemic phase of COVID-19, and we’re facing pivotal challenges as we emerge from the pandemic. The past two years deeply underscored housing’s fundamental necessity.

Washington is one of the major epicenters of the housing affordability crisis; owning a home is becoming unobtainable for more and more District residents. Without a concentrated push to substantially increase housing supply, the American dream will continue to fade for many.

Additional details about each candidate can be found on DCAR’s website.

In a win for REALTORS® and the public, the D.C. Council passed legislation on July 12 that allows public notaries to certify paper copies of electronic records and to notarize documents virtually.

During testimony at the bill’s first hearing in March 2022, DCAR emphasized the need for flexibility and access to individuals seeking notarial services and highlighted the usefulness of online notarization for traditionally underserved communities. DCAR continued to actively support the bill through its final passage last week