Steve Vincent and his wife, Stephanie, have been helping folks with their real estate needs together for more than eight years.

They have also been serving fellow Realtors, and it looks very promising that their service together will continue. Members of the Utah County Association of Realtors recently elected a new Board of Directors for 2013 and elevated Steve Vincent from government affairs committee chair to first vice president. His wife is president of the association this year and will become past president next year when he takes the reins in his new role. The inauguration is in December.

“One of the most important things we do as Realtors is to get involved in the political process to protect property rights,” Stephanie Vincent said. “It’s important to protect our industry and our clients . . .. I’m at a time in my life when I can fight those battles.”

“Our business is so related to the economy that it’s important to standup for property rights,” Steve Vincent said.

Often homeowners, buyers and sellers don’t know how legislation affects them, so Realtors often act as their watchdog.

As part of the political process board officers interview each candidate for public office in an effort to assist contestants win election that are friendly to the real estate industry.

Once elected to an administrative role, a Realtor serves four years, first as first vice president, then as president-elect, then president and finally as past president. So next year while Steve Vincent serves as first vice president, his wife, Stephanie, will hold the title and role of past president.

“It will be great working with my husband,” Stephanie Vincent said. They complement each other and respect each other’s views.

Steve Vincent has been in the biz for more than 20 years, including a stint as a mortgage company owner. As chair of the governmental affairs committee he monitored the Utah Legislature to make certain the lawmakers were passing regulations that benefit the Realtor organization and the homeowners Realtors serve.

“Our business is of great importance to our community, yet we are constantly under attack by regulations that would greatly impact us for the negative,” he said in his campaign statement for first vice president. “I understand these problems and commit to fight for our business so that you can keep working hard for you and your clients. “

He was government affairs vice-chair in 2011. The couple is affiliated with Prudential Utah Elite Real Estate.

Elected to the Board of Directors were:

• Dan Kennedy, a Realtor since 2007 and affiliated with Keller Williams Westfield. A Utah County native, he graduated from Orem High in 1998 and resides in Spanish Fork with his wife and family.

• Kathleen Koyle, an Associate Broker with Coldwell Banker Residential-Orem. She has been in the biz since 1990 and has a whole slew of initials behind her name, CRB, CRS, GRI, SFR, and SRES, which speaks volumes for her training. She has served on the Multiple Listing Service committee, education, and awards committees and is now serving her second year with the social committee.

• Gail Baum, affiliated with South Rim Realty in Payson. Last year she served a one-year term on the Board with service going to awards, Real Estate Policy and Advocacy Committee, education, and social committees.

• J. Brad Morgan is affiliated with The Brokerage and has been a Realtor for 13 years where he has achieved top producer status. His business model includes traditional sales, new construction, development and negotiating short sales.

• Kenna Wagner, Coldwell Banker Residential, brings 12 years of experience to her new role and is often counted among the top 50 producing agents in her office. She believes in continuing education and is currently pursuing her broker’s license.

Rodger L. Hardy is a Realtor affiliated with Prudential Utah Real Estate and a former real estate editor. For answers to your real estate questions please email him at rhardy@utahresidentialEteam.com.