Rex for Metro

The primary is getting close (May 18th), so it’s time for Rex to put down the kick-stand and get on over to Metro! Today, for your viewing pleasure, the series finale of “A Ride with Rex”:

In Episode 6, Rex stops by the site of the former Northeast Community School, an innovative school he and his wife Lydia helped get off the ground. “Kids are really important, and they’re going to be here long after we’re gone. And that’s what Metro talks about: planning for that 50 year future.”

Then, in the Final Episode, he winds up his ride on Mississippi Avenue, where Lydia and a group of fellow teachers helped organize the first Mississippi Street Fair. Over a cup of coffee, he talks with pride about helping connect people with programs and ideas to make things happen, and the value of dialogue and differing ideas about where we need to go.

So treat your ears and eyes to the series finale of “A Ride with Rex,” and then consider opening your pocketbook to help Rex these critical last couple of weeks before the primary May 18th.

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Last night, I accompanied Rex over the Columbia River for a house party in Vancouver. Although Vancouver and Clark County aren’t part of Metro, our neighbors across the river are intimately familiar with the issues facing our region.

Why should Vancouver care about this race? As Rex said last night, the effort to get our economy back on track and create jobs shouldn’t stop at the river. And our fight against climate change will take the work of all of us working together in a spirit of collaboration and partnership.

Despite the impact these issues have on our region as a whole, we were truly surprised when we arrived! Nearly 50 people showed up in support of Rex, including local citizens, business owners, union workers and elected officials. Attendees included State Senator Craig Pridemore, Vancouver City Council member Jack Burkman, and former Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard.

Pollard warmed up the crowd, telling attendees, “We could ask for no better friend across the river than Rex Burkholder.”

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Happy Together from Rex for Metro President on Vimeo.

Rex knows that protecting our environment and creating jobs must go hand in hand. In our first ad, members of the environmental, labor, and business communities are all coming together to support Rex and his vision for our region. But we need your help now to keep this ad on the air! Click here to contribute now!

To give you an idea of what your money buys, consider this:

* $1000 will get a spot on Jeopardy.

* $500 buys one ad during the 6 o’clock news.

* $250 will land us an ad during Ellen.

* $100 will pay for an ad on Letterman.

With less than 3 weeks until the last ballot is cast, voters are just now starting to pay attention.

Help Rex today with a contribution of $25, $50, or $500.

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As he heads north to the school he help start, Rex talks about how effective Metro has been over the last eight years he’s been a Metro Councilor, out-competing other cities to implement visionary projects. And that’s a good thing, because the stakes are high: climate change could significantly affect our region — from water shortages for the people who grow our food, to populations moving here when their regions are affected. There’s simply no time for on-the-job training for the next Metro President: we need someone like Rex, who knows Metro inside and out but also understands the real-world consequences of the work it does:

… I’m a father, with two young sons in their early 20s. They’ll have families not too long from now, and climate change could really affect their quality of life — and maybe even their lives. So, we have to do something about it: we are the generation that needs to act on this issue.

Watch the Fifth Episode and then share it with your friends. We’ve also collected the entire series so far right here.

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It’s all about building bridges in Episode 4 of “A Ride with Rex.” First, Rex crosses over the Hawthorne Bridge on the widened sidewalk that marks his first public policy victory, soon after he helped found the Bicycle Transportation Alliance. On the way back north, Rex shows a keen eye for how the natural world is woven into the Esplanade, and talks about the bridges we build between one another — and a Metro President builds with the public he or she serves. Then we ask Rex about the I-5 Columbia River Crossing, and he talks about the opportunity the project presents, but only if it’s done right:

Built right — and that’s the key, building it right — you’re replacing an existing bridge that’s old and needs to be replaced, and in a new way that gets you transit, biking and walking across, and in a way that’s more environmentally conscious … But again, the key is the right size. You gotta right-size things.

These 4-minute mini-docs are a great, quick way to introduce friends and co-workers to the Rex we know and love. Share them far and wide! To catch up on previous episodes, we’ve got them all collected for you here.

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