Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, has been named 2011 Realtor Legislative Champion by the Washington Association of Realtors board of directors.

“Throughout the 2011 legislative session, Sen. Ranker was a forceful advocate for fair taxation,”  Realtors’ Vice-president of Government Affairs George McGilliard said when he presented the award. “And for protecting the real estate industry and the clients and homeowners we serve.”

Ranker was the prime sponsor of rejecting legislation that would have taxed a portion of real estate commissions twice. Ranker also sponsored a measure allowing local government to protect existing homes from new shorelines restrictions and enabling homeowners to remodel, rebuild and expand these homes while still protecting shorelines.

“It is time we focus on the economy,” Ranker said. “It is not a partisan issue — I recognize that if our economy is going to recover, home sales must recover.”