Illinois REALTORS® today announced that Tom Benedetto will lead the association’s Local Governmental Affairs Director (GAD) team as Director of Local Advocacy and Gideon Blustein will direct its Advocacy Programs as Senior Director of Advocacy Programs.

Benedetto is a seasoned government affairs and strategic communications professional. He previously served as the Government Affairs Director for the Chicagoland Apartment Association and has worked on numerous Chicago political campaigns. Benedetto also has first-hand experience in lobbying the City of Chicago and Cook County Board, in addition to state elected officials.  

A graduate of Butler University with a master’s degree from DePaul University in Chicago, Benedetto began his career as an elementary school teacher.  

The Illinois REALTORS® GAD program has been recognized as a model for local government advocacy among REALTOR® organizations nationwide. It is an extension of the substantial public policy advocacy resources provided by Illinois REALTORS®. The GADs work with REALTORS® advocating for the protection of homeownership and private property rights.  

GADs are situated across the state help local associations and their members organize for or against public policy proposals that impact the industry or private property rights. Also, GADs play critical roles in promoting RPAC and identifying local leaders who should be supported politically. 

In his new role as the Senior Director of Advocacy Programs, Blustein will lead the association’s independent expenditure program and its consumer and member facing advocacy campaigns.  

Blustein has served in a number of critical roles at the intersection of member engagement and government affairs during his career with the association.  

Having once served as a Local Government Affairs Director, Blustein recently led the GAD Program.  

Blustein has played a key role in enhancing the association’s marketing and communications products and facilitating its Discriminatory Appraisals Task Force, focus on Heritage Months and working with industry groups, and diversity and inclusion initiatives.   

Blustein also has secured funding to provide Fair Housing training to regional housing providers, hosted local real estate investment tours with local municipalities and created homeownership expos prior to the COVID pandemic shutdown.  

Before joining Illinois REALTORS®, Blustein served as Deputy Director of an Illinois State Agency and Executive Director of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce’s Infrastructure Council. He also worked on the staff of two United States Members of Congress and in various roles on political campaigns.  

Blustein holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree from Northwestern University.