PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Don’t Let Things Happen-Make Things Happen! L
Mike Auderer PRESIDENT
if you don’t like it “andEven don’t think politics is your thing - it is! ”
GET INVOLVED!
For help getting involved in TAHC, or any other arena, contact OMB’s Executive Officer, Troy Nichols at troy@omb.org or (360) 754-0912 or myself at mike@olyconstruction. com or (360) 451-3191.
ast fall at election time, I shared my thoughts on the importance of The Affordable Housing Council (TAHC). I want to, again and often, touch on TAHC and the importance of electing good candidates. TAHC has already started meeting this year and you, my fellow members, are encouraged and welcome to attend! For those of you that don’t know, TAHC makes local candidate endorsements and contributions after conducting an extensive vetting process. We work in an industry that is impacted by elected officials every day! Even if you don’t like it and don’t think politics is your thing – it is! Getting involved in TAHC has given me the ability to take action and make a difference with something I never thought I had any control over. By pooling our resources and our voices, as an Association, we make a difference by helping get business and home builder friendly candidates elected. Last year, TAHC endorsed and supported two business and housing friendly candidates in the City of Shelton. Both of those candidates were elected by the people of Shelton. This year the City of Shelton has drastically dropped building fees in the City and are encouraging builders to come join them in improving their community! (More information on the City of Shelton fee decrease can be found on page 12) The TAHC also endorsed and supported a quality candidate in Thurston County last election cycle. Commissioner Blake is a lone voice on the Commission, but he is asking the right questions and making sure that the business community is being heard and included in discussions. And we have the opportunity to elect two additional like-minded individuals to the Commission this November! Homeownership is still the American Dream. WE build stronger communities
4 • Chalk Line
and improve the quality of life! It’s been proven that homeownership gives people a sense of pride and accomplishment, and improves social stability. According to the National Association of Home Builders, building 100 new single family homes creates 297 full-time jobs, $28 million in wage and business income and $11.1 million in federal, state, and local tax revenue. A robust, quality housing industry equals more jobs, a better economy and a tax base that supports our community and schools!! We need more elected officials in our local area that understand this, and wholeheartedly embrace it. We need more elected officials that understand that every fee and every regulation that increases the cost of housing is actually hurting the community, not helping it. Take a look at the article on page 10 that focuses on impact fees so you can understand the added cost to housing and why this matters. Honestly, there are days I would rather spend my spare time out on the water with friends and family than at a TAHC meeting, but I feel strongly that we have and we will make a difference in our local elections! And to be very honest, the more I participate, the more I am learning about the process and the candidates, and I am actually having fun doing it! Plus, by participating on TAHC I am improving the climate that I am doing business in. You can become a TAHC trustee by contributing $125 in one calendar year. Trustees are voting members. If you already made the $40 voluntary contribution to TAHC as part of your dues, and thank you to all you members that have, you only need to contribute an additional $85! Campaign contributions are the fuel that keeps candidates running, and we need to continue to support them in order to make real change. Let’s make things happen for our businesses and our community!