At the 2024 WANADA Annual Meeting, Chairman Jamie Darvish proudly unveiled a new initiative, the WANADA Action Network. This organization is designed to educate and activate dealers on critical political issues that impact their businesses, underscoring WANADA’s commitment to protecting the interests of the automotive industry in the Washington area.
The importance of political activism cannot be overstated, as dealers have witnessed firsthand the power of engagement. During the pandemic, WANADA’s advocacy was instrumental in having dealerships designated as “essential” businesses, ensuring they could remain open when the economy was struggling. Furthermore, the association successfully lobbied for an increased processing charge in Maryland, directly benefiting dealerships’ bottom lines.
However, the need for proactive engagement continues. The WANADA Action Network aims to protect dealers from potentially damaging policies, such as the FTC’s proposed CARS Rule, which could impose burdensome compliance requirements, as well as overly stringent emissions mandates and right-to-repair legislation that could limit dealer operations. By uniting dealers under one advocacy platform, the network seeks to protect the industry from regulatory overreach.
Darvish emphasized that dealer engagement is essential to safeguard the future of their businesses. Success in advocacy depends on contributions of time, money, and influence to counteract opposing forces that often have significant resources at their disposal. However, many dealers are hesitant to get involved, either due to confusion about lobbying or a desire to avoid politics. The WANADA Action Network aims to simplify this process by providing clear avenues for involvement, from grassroots efforts to financial contributions.
With government actions increasingly shaping the business environment, the network calls on dealers to participate actively. In the words of Darvish, “If we’re not at the table, we’ll be on the menu.”
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