Press Release: Shanaman joins Seattle King REALTORS® as Government Affairs Director

BELLEVUE, Washington (March 2, 2022) – Seattle King County REALTORS® (SKCR) announced the hiring of Taylor Shanaman as director of governmental and public affairs. She has 10 years of experience in similar roles, most recently with Oregon REALTORS®.

In her new role, Shanaman will be the staff liaison with SKCR’s Governmental and Public Affairs Committee and its advocacy efforts focused on improving housing supply, various tax issues, real estate signage, and candidate interviews and endorsements. Her responsibilities will also include producing the organization’s annual Housing Issues Briefing for candidates and policymakers, and publishing voting guides for its members.

“Taylor’s experience in the REALTOR® association and her knowledge of housing policy in the Northwest are a boon to our organization,” said SKCR CEO Russ Hokanson. “She understands our culture of advocacy and works well in collaboration with our members.”

Shanaman and the association’s housing specialists work with jurisdictions throughout King County to improve housing access and affordability. They also collaborate with Washington Realtors (the state association), to advance legislation and incentives for local governments to increase housing opportunities and density, to eliminate unenforceable racial covenants that still exist on the title to many homes statewide, and to promote Fair Housing education.

A 2012 political science graduate of Washington State University who grew up in Tacoma, Shanaman was an intern for the Washington State Office of the Attorney General while a student. Upon graduation, she joined the staff at Washington REALTORS and in 2017 became government affairs director at the Tacoma-Pierce County Association. She has also served as a development officer for a regional health system.

Shanaman recently relocated to Bellevue. She succeeds David Crowell who retired at the end of 2021 following a 33-year career at SKCR.

SKCR, based in Bellevue, has more than 7,500 members and is a local board of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). Members of the nonprofit professional trade association adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and participate in matters at all levels of government that affect private property rights, housing supplies, affordability, and homeownership opportunities. Membership is voluntary, and only members may use the term REALTOR®, which is a registered collective membership mark.

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