The Unsung heroes! AB-2501 Killed

GUEST EDITORIAL

Once the bill was announced in the mid May, CALR immediately took action. We knew we were called to arms and it was an all hands-on deck situation. With the guidance of Joey and Marcelle who worked tirelessly behind the scenes creating a symphony of working parts implementing strategies and putting them in place. We worked daily with our lobbyist to get new information and passed it along to our team. It may have seemed all was lost when the power houses opposing this bill were not able to move the needle.

CALR pressed on and didn’t give up. We know the work is done behind the scenes and not in the public eye. A few key CALR members watched on the 15th as the bill finally came to vote and was stuck at 39 ayes. Joey and Marcelle immediately called our team to action and we went to work. Our team called every assembly member office and explained the perils of this horrific bill.

As today came the 18th of June and the tireless efforts of contacting the assemblymen and women’s offices, sending Emails, asking their legislative staff to call us as well. Many more of you worked tirelessly too. The bill was not even brought up again. Although we won the battle, now we must win the war. We know at any time this bill or ones like it can be taken on again, but with CALR, their determined members, and the teamwork we can overcome anything.

We may always be the underdogs but today we were giants.

Submitted by Michael Farhood

We couldn’t have done this without you and the village it took to fight the bill. Thank you, Kevin, of CUCollector/CU Repossession for always supporting us and getting the word out. We would notably like to thank Joe Collins CALR’s Legislative Liaison as he is so giving of is time. The work of CALR takes away from his business and doesn’t help him get business. Joe always puts CALR first.

The importance of CALR, the relationships it has built over the years and Joe’s relentless efforts paid off on Monday. Our efforts do not always pay off but this time it did. Even though there may not be a bill to fight, the relationships and support are key in times like this.

The following people have made sacrifices and have taken time away from their businesses. Their acts are selfless and thankless.

I would like to say a special thank you to our lobbyist, John Serafin of Law Recovery (newest CALR board member), Mike Farhood of Sterling Asset Recovery and (immediate past Vice President of CALR), Shane Freitas of Accurate Adjustments and immediate past CALR legislative liaison), James McNeil of Daybreak Metro (former CALR board member), Lisa Maloy (newest DRC committee member) of the William Maloy Company, the entire board of CALR, Monty Cavalier, Joel Kennedy President of National Automotive Finance Association, ARA and their entire board, TexasARP and their entire board, Mike Reiter of HAR, Anthony Gentile of Dynamic, all who donated to our lobbying efforts (there are too many to list), Chuck Cowherd of Action Auto Recovery, John Michel of Web Weaver, Karel Rocha of Prenovost, Normandin, Dawe and Rocha, A.P.C. DRN and Mike Peplinski of Harding Brooks Insurance Agency.

Many prayers were said and thank you to all of you who have faith!

This bill may raise it’s ugly head on the Senate side. We have to be ready. The battle is won but we are preparing for the war.