REX BURKHOLDER
OCCUPATION: Metro Councilor
OCCUPATIONAL BACKGROUND: Science Teacher, Portland Public Schools; Faculty-Student Development, Portland State University; Policy Director, Bicycle Transportation Alliance
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: MA Urban and Environmental Policy, Tufts University; BS Biology with Teaching Certificate, Portland State University
PRIOR GOVERNMENTAL EXPERIENCE: Metro Councilor, 2001–present; M.L. King Jr. Boulevard Restoration Committee, Metro, 1996–98; Transportation Policy Alternatives Committee, Metro, 1992–98; Citizen’s Budget Advisory Committee, City of Portland, 1989-91
REX BURKHOLDER
WORKING FOR YOU AT METRO
Quality of Life: Led the successful fight to defend Portland’s neighborhoods against a ballot measure that would have destroyed our ability to plan for the future.
Safe Streets: Re-directed millions of federal transportation dollars to reduce pollution and make streets safer, including $2 million for pedestrian improvements in St. Johns.
Economic Development: Helped expand MAX light rail to North and Northeast Portland and oversaw doubling the capacity of the Oregon Convention Center – projects bringing jobs for city residents.
Green Space: Helped protect 8,000 acres of critical fish and wildlife habitat and supported new trails for walking and biking.
Accountability: Made Metro more efficient and accountable, balancing budgets and saving taxpayers millions.
BECAUSE OF METRO,
PORTLAND IS A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE
LET’S GET EVEN BETTER AND SMARTER…
–Rex will fight for smart transportation choices, supporting safer streets, light rail, trails, and bikeways.
–Rex will fight to expand living-wage jobs within Portland by protecting industrial areas like Swan Island, NW Industrial Area, Central Eastside and Columbia North Shore.
–Rex will fight for a strong urban growth boundary, preventing sprawl and maintaining vital jobs, businesses and services close to home.
–Rex will fight for open and accountable public planning for Portland and Metro’s future. He’ll fight for affordable housing, healthy neighborhoods, parks and wildlife habitat.
A FEW OF REX’S ENDORSEMENTS
Metro Council President David Bragdon, Metro Councilor Rod Park, Oregon Natural Resources Council Action PAC, Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Portland Association of Teachers – Teachers Voice in Politics, Sierra Club
REX BURKHOLDER FOR METRO COUNCIL
(This information furnished by Rex Burkholder for Metro Council)
TERRY PARKER
OCCUPATION: None
OCCUPATIONAL BACKGROUND: Customer service and advertising.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: Graduated Madison High School, Portland, Oregon. Automotive technician classes – Portland Community College, Portland, Oregon.
PRIOR GOVERNMENTAL EXPERIENCE: Served four years as a member including two years as chair of the Banfield Citizen Advisory Committee that recommended the region’s first light rail line from Downtown Portland to Gresham, and widening I-84 from I-5 to Gateway.
Land Use: Growth must be financially sustainable instead of taxpayer subsidized. Tax abatement programs on all but low-income property should be discontinued with luxury properties paying the full amount. The school portion of taxes on increased property values in urban renewal districts should be paid to the schools. Individual neighborhoods must have the option of retaining their own character without over densification. More permeable areas are needed instead of building structures sidewalk to sidewalk.
Transportation: The region is wasting a lot of transportation dollars on what is called “street modernization”. One of the basic components of these street makeovers is adding curb extensions causing busses to stop in travel lanes, blocking traffic and creating congestion which then increases fuel consumption for motorists and negatively impacts air quality. Attacking the automobile with taxes for subsidies to support for other modes only reduces Oregon’s large non-subsidized auto industry job base and increases the region’s cost of living. Alternative modes must be financially self-sustaining. Sharing the road means sharing the financial responsibility, an issue the current leadership has failed to discuss with the public. Bicyclists need to be taxed for their use of exclusive right-of-ways while expanded transit options must be in part funded from dedicated surcharges on user transit fares, possibly a nickel or dime a ride. No take-a-ways such as removing motor vehicle lanes should take place when an alternative option is added. Motorists as the current funding stakeholders for transportation systems must have direct representation on all transportation related citizen committees. Reality checks must precede all decisions.
(This information furnished by Terry Parker)