Councilor Rex Burkholder
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Rex Burkholder represents District 5, which includes Northwest Portland, North Portland, Northeast Portland, downtown Portland, a portion of Southwest Portland and a portion of Southeast Portland.
Rex Burkholder, elected for a third term in 2008 to represent District 5 in Multnomah County.
Responsibilities and initiatives
Rex Burkholder first joined the Metro Council in 2001, hoping to use his energy, skills and knowledge gained as a community activist to help create a sustainable region. Now in his third term, he is proud of the progress Metro has made towards this goal. For example, he sponsored and now leads Metro's Regional Climate Action Strategy, working with regional businesses, governments and residents to combat climate change. He has also secured funding to support region-wide, conservation education for youth.
Currently, Councilor Burkholder represents the Metro Council on the Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (having previously chaired this committee for four years). He is spearheading the update of Metro's Regional Transportation Plan, focusing on how we can better use our transportation investments to increase job opportunities as well as improving health, safety and the environment. He is also co-chair of the Bi State Coordinating Committee, working closely with leaders of southwest Washington on economic development and transportation issues. On a national level, he is a board member of the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations.
Work and community experience
Burkholder helped found the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and worked as the policy director for the nonprofit organization, helping to make it one of Oregon’s most active grassroots organizations. He also has taught high school science and served as faculty at Portland State University Office of Student Development.
As a community activist for the past 20 years, he was a founding trustee of the nationally recognized Coalition for a Livable Future, which unites more than 50 citizen groups on the issue of sustainability. As a parent-volunteer, Burkholder helped establish the Northeast Community School, an innovative, diverse charter school in Portland. He has been honored as the 1998 Most Effective Citizen Advocate in the metro region by 1000 Friends of Oregon and as a 1999 founder of a New Northwest by Sustainable Northwest.
Education
Burkholder received a bachelor’s degree in biology and a teaching certificate from Portland State University. He earned a master’s degree in urban and environmental policy from Tufts University in 1989.
Burkholder is married and has two sons. Burkholder enjoys playing tenor guitar, spending time with his family and hiking or kayaking around the Northwest.
Need assistance?
Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder
503-797-1546 | 503-797-1793 fax
rex.burkholder@oregonmetro.gov
or
Kathryn Sofich, policy coordinator
503-797-1941
kathryn.sofich@oregonmetro.gov