The primary election is Tuesday, June 11. Please VOTE. Visit SCVotes.gov to find your polling place.
Your REALTORS® Association has prepared a Voter Guide to help you evaluate the candidates. You can download the REALTOR® Voter Guide by clicking here.
Primary elections are where voters choose the candidate who will represent the two major parties, Democrat and Republican. Other smaller parties generally choose their candidates during a party meeting or convention. Because of the strong political leaning toward one of the major parties, over another, in many areas of our state, primary elections are where most elections are decided. If you want to have a voice in who represents you, voting in the primary election is important.
South Carolina’s primaries are open. That means you don’t need to be a member of a political party to vote in that party’s primary election.
These are the offices that are on the ballot in the primary:
- U.S. Congress District 3
- SC Solicitor District 10 (Anderson and Oconee counties)
- SC House of Representatives
- SC Senate
- various County Councilmembers in Anderson, Pickens, and Oconee counties
- Auditor, Clerk of Court, Coroner, Sheriff, and Treasurer in Anderson, Pickens, and Oconee counties
Note that the Presidential primary elections were held by the two major parties in January and February.
NAR data tells us that more than 90 percent of Realtors are registered to vote. Imagine the influence Realtors could have if all Realtors voted. If you haven’t already voted early, please make plans to go to the polls on Tuesday, June 11.
Before you vote, click here (link to the location on the website) for the REALTOR® Voter Guide and learn about the candidates and who your fellow Realtors recommend.
Property Managers and the Lead Paint Rule
The Lead Paint Rule doesn’t just apply to contractors, it also applies to property managers who manage properties with lead paint. Many properties built before 1978 have lead paint and just last week I learned that a Realtor in the Upstate was visited by the EPA conducting a surprise record inspection.
If you are a property manager:
- Managing housing built before 1978.
- Managing a property built before 1978 that is occupied by a child (like a childcare center).
- Performing or contracting to perform regulated construction activity that disturbs lead paint in the property.
Your property management company employees handling those repairs must have an individual certification as a certified Lead Safe Renovator and your company must complete a Lead Safe Firm certification.
Even if your company subcontracts renovation and repair work, your firm and an employee must be certified by the EPA. In addition, you must use a certified renovator if the work disturbs lead paint. These certifications have an expiration date, so it is important to ensure that certifications are renewed. The potential fine for a violation is $37,000 per day per violation.
You can learn more about complying with these new rules by visiting this EPA webpage.
Support RPAC
RPAC is an important element of your Realtors Association’s advocacy program. I encourage you to support RPAC, and we make it easy—we include a voluntary RPAC contribution on your annual dues renewal. Simply pay it and you have supported RPAC. If you want to do more than that modest amount, we make that easy too.
Michael Dey, Director of Government Affairs