Rex for Metro President

As a former high school science teacher, Rex has always been a strong advocate of children’s programs.  In the early 90’s, Rex helped organize a large grassroots movement to save public school funding, including a rally that brought thousands of concerned citizens to Waterfront Park in downtown Portland.  Then in 1995, Rex and his partner, Lydia, rolled up their sleeves to build The Northeast Community School, a public-private magnet school focusing on urban issues and community service.  He also volunteered in his children’s schools weekly for 20 years.

Today we are proud to announce the Portland Association of Teachers has endorsed Rex’s campaign for Metro President!

Look at what Rebecca Levison, President of the Portland Association of Teachers, has to say about Rex:

This race is important for both children and teachers in our region, and it is clear that Rex Burkholder is the best candidate for Metro President.  When funding became scarce, Rex worked tirelessly to save Outdoor School so that more than 18,000 children could benefit from this wonderful program.

As our region grows, we need to ensure the health and safety of our neighborhoods.  Everyone wants to live in a community where their children can bike and walk safely, and every child deserves the opportunity to learn about the world around us.

We’re so happy that teachers have joined the campaign!

We’re proud to announce that over the last few days, Rex’s unwavering support for working families — and his track record of delivering results for them — has earned several key labor endorsements:

• Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council
• IBEW 48
• Northwest Oregon Labor Council
• Portland Firefighters Local 43
• International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
• Joint Council of Teamsters No. 37

We’re honored to have their support — if you know anyone who’s a leader or member of these organizations, drop them a note thanking them for their vote of confidence. These important organizations know that Rex Burkholder is the only candidate who can bring workers and business leaders together to create living wage jobs — jobs for the 21st century, preserving the region we love and positioning us at the forefront of the emerging green economy.

As Bob Tacket of the NW Oregon Labor Council told us,

“The NW Oregon Labor Council and its affiliates voted to endorse Rex Burkholder for Metro President because of his leadership for working families and his vision for economic growth in our region. Rex knows that the current Columbia River Crossing is unsustainable in every sense of the word, and it must be fixed. The project as Rex envisions it will not only reduce pollution and maintain healthy neighborhoods, it will create more than 26,000 jobs over 5 years, providing important job opportunities for our members.”

Working families stand behind Rex as the only candidate who can deliver on a sustainable economy.

It was obviously a long day yesterday. We sent an email today that needs one small correction. My vote last night was ultimately based on my firm belief that it’s time we get back to work and move our region forward with the balanced plans adopted for Clackamas and Multnomah counties. Again, I think the Washington County map sacrifices too much farmland, and will likely provoke lawsuits wasting valuable time and resources.