President’s Message » President’s Message
Happy New Year fellow members of Washington Apartment Association. I wanted to take a minute to thank you via this letter for the opportunity to serve as the president of this important organization this term. For those of you who do not know me, my name is Rob Trickler and I am a delegate to WAA from Snohomish County Apartment Operators Association where I serve as the vice president. I am also a practicing attorney exclusively in the arena of landlord tenant law as I own both my own law firm and a company named All County Evictions, both operating out of Everett.
I want to start out by offering a big thank you to our past president Judy. I want you all to know that WAA has been blessed to have Judy at the helm and with her guidance I will do my best to fill those big shoes.
We have some challenges going forward. This year’s legislative session has seen a plethora of attempts to limit the landlord’s ability to get the public records and public information that is vital to making and informed decision on whether or not to rent to an individual. These attempts have been very short sighted in their failure to see the damage their success would do to our important industry and we have been fighting them with a full head of steam. At the same time there are multiple bills that would make landlords more accountable for their tenant’s actions despite wanting to emaciate the landlord’s ability to screen. Further, with the budgetary nightmare the state is facing, WAA is fighting to stop or minimize any attempts to gain new revenue for the state on the backs of owners of rentals. Despite good success this session, these issues will not go away so I urge everyone to stay involved, keep informed, participate and support the Political Action Committee.
We have some goals this year. The board has decided that it is time for WAA to explore some ideas directed at reaching people that do not have a local organization of landlords. That may bring a need for some creative marketing and we invite ideas. We also hope to help our local members to put membership drives together and hope to strengthen the participation in our member groups.
In closing I would simply say that the economy and political environment make it appealing to want to pull in when we need to reach out. Our industry is an important one and as a group we are far better situated to protect it and our own common interests. I look forward to working with you all and wish you all the best.
Best regards
Rob W. Trickler, WAA President
Attorney and Counselor at Law