[2] He was also vice provost and executive director of Portland State University's school of Extended Studies from 2003 to 2011.
Following an audit over his travel expenses by PSU, he resigned from the university in June 2011 after being threatened to be put on an administrative leave.
He was convicted of official misconduct in 2012 for falsely claiming his pleasure trip to Europe in 2010 as a work related expense.
He ran on a platform of maintaining a tight urban growth boundary and expansion of regional parks and facilities.
One of Burton's first acts was the implementation of an Open Spaces and Trails ballot measure approved by the voters.
More than 100 local park projects in neighborhoods across the region offer biking, hiking and wildlife watching opportunities close to home.
In 2003, Burton became the vice provost and executive director of Portland State University's School of Extended Studies.
Burton resigned from PSU in June 2011 after the university threatened to place him on an administrative leave following an audit.
[11][12] Burton claimed $4,500 in pleasure trip to Europe in 2010 as a work expense while employed by the Portland State University.
[13] Multnomah County Court quashed the case in 2013 after Burton appealed and made a settlement with the university.