Elections

The Board of Directors Consists of the following Voting Members:

• Four Elected Officers (President, President-Elect, Treasurer, Secretary)
• Twelve REALTOR® members; four of whom shall be elected each year by the voting members for terms of three years each
• One REALTOR® member associated with a firm having twenty or fewer Realtors and elected once every three years to a three-year term
• One REALTOR® principal broker designated by the Broker Advisory Council who will serve a one-year term
• One REALTOR® Director-at-large (excluding past presidents and current Directors) who shall be appointed by the incoming President for a one-year term representing a diverse population
• One commercial REALTOR® member of the Commercial Advisory Board (appointed by the Commercial Advisory Board every other year) who shall serve a two-year term
• One commercial REALTOR® Director-at-Large (excluding past presidents and current Directors) who shall be elected every other year by the general membership for a two-year term
• Immediate Past President
• Corporate or Individual Affiliate member elected each alternate year for a two-year term
• Chief Executive Officer
• One REALTOR® member representing merged REALTOR® Associations who shall be elected every other year by the general membership for a two-year term

(To continue such representation on the BOD, it must continue to meet as an area association.)

• One legal expert/real estate law representative who shall be appointed every other year by the Executive Committee, with Board of Directors’ ratification, to serve a two-year term

Qualifications for REALTOR® Members:

1. Must be REALTOR® members in good standing at the time of election and during the term of service.

2. Must have held continuous membership the three successive years immediately preceding their election.

Duties of the Entire Body:

1. Shall determine the policies and activities of the Association. The Board of Directors does not operate the day-to-day business of the Association. In delegating that function to others, it must set policy and oversee those staff and committees assigned to complete the task.

1. Amend the Bylaws
2. Approve the strategic and annual plans
3. Assume responsibility for actions of all committees

2. Approve and discipline members.

1. Review the qualifications of applicants for membership in Columbus REALTORS® and approve their membership
2. Serve as the appeal body for actions / recommendations of the committees of the Association

3. Elect the Officers of the Association.

1. Each November, elect the Officers of the Association for the following year
2. Fill, by appointment, any vacancy in the Board of Directors

4. Approve budgets and extraordinary expenditures.

1. Provide the CEO and the Association appropriate resources to carry out the programs adopted by the Board of Directors

5. Perform an annual review of the Chief Executive Officer.

6. Have entire charge of the affairs of Columbus REALTORS®.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Individual Director:

1. A Director must exercise his/her power in the interest of Columbus REALTORS® and the membership, and not in their own interest or that of their company. Each Director must be conscious of potential for conflicts of interest, and act with candor and care in dealing with such situations.

2. When speaking to the media or membership in their capacity as a Director, they should not refer to their company identity.

3. When acting on matters brought before the Board of Directors, they represent all members of Columbus REALTORS® and will make decisions on the basis of the benefits to the total membership.

4. Prepare for each Board meeting by carefully studying the agenda and support materials. As much information as is practical will be made available in advance of the meeting.

5. Each Director should exercise his/her own independent judgement for all Association decisions brought before them, and when necessary state their concerns, support and/or opposition.

6. Attend every meeting of the BOD and stay for the entire meeting. For each meeting of the Board, plan for attendance from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. (lite breakfast provided at 9 a.m.) Every attempt will be made to place only those actions that need approval, or on items which the President deems Directors should be briefed. The items that appear late on agendas are usually just as important as those appearing early.

7. Attend the official functions of Columbus REALTORS®; including, but not limited to: regular meetings of the Board of Directors; Leadership Inaugural Installation, Industry Forecast Lunch, Commercial Awards Reception, CORPAC and Foundation Fundraising events; the Annual Business Meeting and the Awards Gala (formerly the President’s Ball).

8. While attending any function of Columbus REALTORS® or other meetings not officially part of the Association’s responsibility or jurisdiction (such as area association meetings), Directors should be comfortable with their position as a Director and not hesitate to state the Board of Directors’ position when necessary. Directors should publicly support the actions of the Board of Directors. Directors have a responsibility to bring members’ concerns, needs or requests observed while attending these functions to the Board of Directors.

9. Each Director will be assigned a committee of the Association as Director Liaison. Directors much attend a minimum of 75 percent of the meetings of the committee assigned.

Director Nominating Committee

The slate of candidates for Director is prepared by the Director Nominating Committee. The Director Nominating Committee for Directors consists of: the elected REALTOR® Directors whose terms expire this year; one past president appointed by the current President; and four REALTOR® members (who are neither current Directors nor past presidents) elected by REALTOR® members at the Annual Business Meeting. Eligible members will vote for the candidates of the director nominating committee and the results will be announced during the meeting.

2025 Election - Directors

The positions available beginning in 2026 are:

1. 4 General Director seats for a three-year term (Jan. 1, 2026-Dec. 31, 2028)
2. 1 General Director seat for a two-year term (Jan. 1, 2026-Dec. 31, 2027)
3. 1 Director seat associated with a firm with 20 or fewer REALTORS® for a three-year term (Jan. 1, 2026 - Dec. 31, 2028)

The election was held online from Dec. 1 (3 a.m.) - Dec. 8 (11:59 a.m.). Those elected will begin their term Jan. 1, 2026.

Anyone wishing to run for a Director position must be a Columbus REALTORS® member in good standing (residential or commercial) and have held continuous membership in the Association for a minimum of three successive years.
The following criteria shall also be considered:

1. Service on Columbus REALTORS® committees
2. Service as chair of Columbus REALTORS® committees
3. Demonstrated support for Columbus REALTORS® advocacy, for example (and not limited to): REALTOR® Care Day, Columbus REALTORS® Foundation and CORPAC
4. Service to the community
5. Success in the industry

The Officer candidate deadline has passed. Anyone wishing to run for Secretary must be a REALTOR® member in good standing (residential or commercial) and have served as an elected or appointed voting Director of the Columbus REALTORS® for a minimum of three (3) years. Further, an individual who has served as Director as the Commercial Advisory Board representative is eligible for Officer election if they have served a minimum of three (3) years on the Commercial Advisory Board.

Applicants must recognize the volunteer time involved in these positions and be willing to serve to their fullest capacity. This includes committing to serve as an officer for the next five years as Secretary, Treasurer, President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past President.

Additional Information:

Officer candidate applicants will be required to submit to a financial and criminal background check. Staff will provide candidates with instructions upon receipt of the candidate application. (With background checks being required in advance, nominations will no longer be taken from the floor during the October meeting of the Association Board of Directors.)

The Commercial Advisory Board shall be the oversight group for all committees of the Commercial Section. A member of the Commercial Advisory Board shall have a 2-year position on the Association’s Board of Directors to serve as a communication link between the Commercial committees and actions needed by the Directors, (amended July 2022). Further, the individual who has served as Director as the Commercial Advisory Board representative is eligible for Officer election if they have served a minimum of three years on the Commercial Advisory Board. 

The Commercial Advisory Board shall be comprised of seven REALTOR® members of the Commercial Section, each serving a three-year term. The seats on the Commercial Advisory Board shall be elected annually by the REALTOR® members of the Commercial Section, and the vice-chair shall be elected by the seven-member Advisory Board, from the membership of the Advisory Board, at the first meeting after the year’s new committee is in place. When deemed desirable by the Commercial Advisory Board, a member’s term may be extended by one year to fulfill their role as chair if appointed as vice chair in the third year of their
elected term. 

Anyone interested in running for the Columbus REALTORS® Commercial Advisory Board must have been a REALTOR® member of the Columbus REALTORS® for at least three consecutive years and a member of the association's Commercial section.

Election - Commercial Advisory Board

• The deadline for 2026 Commercial Advisory Board applications has passed.

How to Apply

Members seeking election to the Commercial Advisory Board were required to submit the following to Kathy Elliott (614) 475-4000 at Columbus REALTORS®.

1. Resume
2. Photo (which will be used on the official ballot should you be nominated)
3. Bio paragraph exactly as you wish it to appear on the official ballot should you be nominated

The election will be held online soon. Those elected will begin their term on Jan. 1, 2026.

2025 Election - MLS Committee Election  

Members of the MLS Committee are appointed by the President. Appointed applicants will begin their term January 1, 2026. 

Members are appointed to 3-year terms. All members appointed will have voting rights. No less than 9 and no more than 15 members will serve on the MLS Committee.
No more than two representatives from a single brokerage, brand, flag, or franchise may serve on the MLS Committee at the same time.
Those appointed shall not serve more than two (2) consecutive terms.
Note: Merged and/or acquired MLSs will have representation through the year of executed merger plus a 3-year term. (This would be in addition to the 15 appointed). Appointment of the applicant will be determined by the nominee's Association and will not exceed the 3-year term.

Appointments will be ratified by the MLS Board of Directors, and consideration in making appointments will include but are not limited to:

• • Brokerage size
  • Active, recent use of the MLS
  • Regional representation (rural)
  • Years in industry
  • Field of expertise (broker, agent, appraiser, residential, commercial)
  • Knowledge of MLS system/rules/regulations/policies, RESO standards
  • Proper balance of broker and agent representation. No less than 50% agent representation (8 committee members)

COMPLETION OF THIS FORM IS REQUIRED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE MLS COMMITTEE

Any Participant or licensee associated with a MLS Participant and designated by the Participant may be eligible for election to the MLS Committee, provided that not more than four Committee Members are from each Participant company until or unless the Participant company's units of activity warrant increased representation.  

For official text concerning the nomination and election process, please see Article VI of the MLS Rules and Regulations.

MLS RULES & REGULATIONS
VII. THE COMMITTEE The purpose of the MLS Committee is to manage and oversee the operations of the Multiple Listing Service. This includes ensuring that the MLS rule and regulations are followed and maintained in an orderly and efficient system for listing and disseminating property information. (Amended 6/12 and 6/24)