Rex for Metro

Dear Friends,

It looks like the results are clear. I won’t be your next Metro President. I want to thank my hundreds of supporters who gave their time, their money and their names to my campaign. As I told those gathered at p:ear tonight, I began my career as a community activist in order to make my community a better place for everyone. And we have succeeded in making Portland a more prosperous, a more equitable and a more sustainable community. I pledge to you that I will continue working to see that everyone thrives in a community that supports and cherishes each person. Thanks to all of you who gave so much of yourselves to this effort. I love each and everyone of you. Keep the faith.

- Rex

7:30 am on a Friday, a group of great people came together at the Rex4Metro Headquarters to talk about freight, trucks and trade over coffee and donated Voodoo Doughnuts.

Jeff Swanson, Schnitzer Steel, was the host and the topic was how to be smarter and greener while continuing to grow the Portland region’s economy. Recent studies show a continued growth in trade to and through the region’s Ports due to growing demand for goods from Asia and the export of Oregon products. Schnitzer just sent 65,000 tons of steel scrap to China by ship, joining the millions of tons of wheat and minerals that go through the Port of Portland’s terminals annually, coming down the Gorge by barge and train. Across the Columbia, if you take a ride along Lake Road you will see giant piles of wind turbines imported by Vestas, soon to be trucked to eastern Oregon and Washington.

I have found out that we are challenged by this growth. The railroads are nearing capacity even with the Connect Oregon investments I helped steer to North Porltand. Most additional freight in the future will move by truck. The question of the morning was, “How can we keep trucks moving and reduce the impact on our neighborhoods and highways at the same time?” Both Jeff and Jerry Grossnickle, Tugboat Association, served on Metro’s Regional Freight Advisory Committee where this question was top and foremost. There is surprisingly strong support among shippers for transportation choices for commuters because they know that trucks have to compete for road space with motorists. If more people carpool, take the Max or ride a bike, there is less congestion and pollution.

The complex and inter-related nature of our import-export economy really came home to me when Dean Large, Waste Connections, talked about how they take the “auto fluff” left over from Schnitzer’s grinding operation to landfills in eastern Washington where it is used as a clean cover. Victoria Yu, a consultant helping Oregon companies connect with Asian firms, pointed out that we need better air connections to Asia and container capacity in our Ports to compete for the Asian market.

It is clear that our economy is truly regional –neither people nor companies care about county or city lines, or state lines, either. Our success depends on greater collaboration and thinking bigger.

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.”

Co-host Ginger Metcalf, executive director of Identity Clark County, affirmed Rex’s ability to bring folks together, saying that, “Rex was the first official in Oregon and the only one since” who has reached out to her in search of common concerns and ideas for solutions.

Rex addressed the packed house, highlighting the importance of Metro as the table where our region gathers to address our shared problems. Rex spoke of our successes—like investing in downtown Gresham to create more livable, walkable neighborhoods and expanding light rail to Clackamas to provide people more transportation choices.

Rex stressed the critical work of job creation, and that economic development in Beaverton and economic development in Vancouver support each another, and both contribute to the success and prosperity of the region as a whole. Rex ended with a call to action and that we’re stronger working together as a region.

The diverse crowd gave Rex an enthusiastic response. Rex raised more than $4,000 at the end of the night!  The Rex Team is thankful to our friends in Vancouver for their support and earnest encouragement to “Keep working together to get our region back on track!”