SCAOR ends contract with King

The Sussex County Association of Realtors Board of Directors has decided to end its decade-long relationship with CEO Ruth Briggs King.

Representing SCAOR’s board, Fred Dean, the outgoing President, sent a one-sentence email to members Dec. 10, saying, “It was the decision of the current board of directors to not renew the employment agreement of the CEO which expires on Jan. 31, 2016.”

King joined SCAOR in 2005 as the executive vice president. King said her job title changed to chief executive officer after a suggestion from the national organization, but her duties remained the same.

King said her contract was not renewed because some board members were concerned about a perception that she was spending too much time on her legislative duties as state representative of the 37th District, which encompasses Georgetown east to Long Neck.

First elected in 2009, King said her contract with SCAOR stipulated the two roles were not a conflict of interest.

During a phone interview Dec. 15, Dean confirmed the email message, but he declined to elaborate further. He said he didn’t want to add to any speculation.

Dean said the association’s board periodically sends out emails conveying one strong message, because that’s the board’s obligation.

“We’re not speaking one way or another. We’re just saying this was the action taken by the board,” he said.

King said she knows the decision wasn’t based on performance. She said when she joined SCAOR there were 800 members and now there are more than 1,500 members.

“I know I’m leaving the association much better off financially,” she said. “There’s nothing to be regretful for or ashamed of.”

In a Cape Gazette story published earlier this month, King said sales are up in all sections of the county, and she predicted total sales will top $1 billion for the second straight year.

“We knew the market would be strong even back in 2014,” she said, adding sales are starting to resemble sales in 2006 and 2007, the last two years before the housing slump.

According to the mid-year report released in July by the association, 2,049 homes were sold in Sussex County, an increase of 49 percent over 2014 sales.

The report says there were $511 million in single-family homes sales, $143 million in condominiums and townhomes sales, and $4.6 million in manufactured home sales. The report also said commercial sales were up 72 percent during the time period.

King said the board’s decision will not affect her legislative duties. She said there are a number issues she would like to address during the upcoming session, which begins in January.

“If anything, it’ll be a little less stressful,” she said.

Dean said the next step for SCAOR would be the creation of a search committee and to begin advertising the position. He said it could take up to three months to find a new chief executive officer.