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= R. Rex Parris = R. Rex Parris (born 1952), is an attorney and the founder of PARRIS, a law firm that specializes in personal injury, employment, and environmental law. He is also the mayor of Lancaster, CA.

After dropping out of high school and working as a busboy, Rex enrolled in community college after receiving his GED. From there, he went to University of California Santa Barbara to study Law & Society, and then went on to Southwestern School of Law to receive his Juris Doctor degree.

Rex started his career as a defense attorney in personal injury and class action lawsuits, becoming a successful trial lawyer. He later transitioned and now remains a plaintiff's attorney. One of his most well-known cases is a 2009 defamation lawsuit filed against Guess Inc by 5 former employees. The case, one of the largest single verdicts in California history, resulted in a $370-million judgment against Georges Marciano, one of Guess' co-founders.

In 2008, Rex invested $400,000 in a campaign for mayor of Lancaster and ended up winning by 352 votes. Since his initial election in 2008, Rex has now been re-elected 3 times, receiving 67% of the popular vote in 2016.

Childhood
Rex was born Raymond Parris in Palmdale, the neighboring city to Lancaster. His father left at an early age and his mother, Jeanne Powers, worked as a waitress to support Rex and his three brothers. At times, his family collected welfare to make ends meet. When Rex dropped out of high school, he got a job as a busboy. Soon after, he started using drugs and nearly ended up in jail. Rex realized he needed to make a change, so he enrolled in community college, and turned his life around.

Today, Rex regularly opens his home to local underprivileged children. He tries to show these children that they too can achieve anything, even if they come from humble beginnings and a troubled past.

Legal Career
Rex positioned himself in personal injury law, and he writes in his blog that his career took off when he started to incorporate cognitive science principles to give him an edge in the courtroom. After incorporating research-based psychology into his preparation for trial, Rex was able to win a number of large multi-million dollar verdicts. According to his firm, PARRIS, they have recovered over $1.1 billion.

Due to his experience and expertise in the courtroom, Rex is regularly asked to speak at events for law groups.

Aliso Canyon Gas Leak
One of Rex's most notable cases involves the largest gas leak in US history, in which gas escaped from a well within the Aliso Canyon's underground storage facility in the Santa Susana Mountains near the affluent neighborhood of Porter Ranch, Los Angeles.

In the aftermath of the leak, residents of Porter Ranch struggled with health problems and fears of plummeting housing values. Many sought legal counsel, and PARRIS was one of four law firms that held a forum for residents at a local church to discuss the lawsuits that had been filed on behalf of residents against SoCal Gas. PARRIS lawyers advised residents on how to prepare for law suits, encouraging residents to keep comprehensive records of the effects of the gas leak, such as costs incurred for temporary or permanent relocation, veterinary expenses, and any adverse health symptoms arising during the time of the leak.

Voting Rights in California
In 2012, Darren Parker, chairman of the California Democratic Party's African-American Caucus at the time, noticed the political leadership in Antelope Valley did not match the diverse population of the area. He suspected this was a violation of the California Voting Rights Act, and worked with attorney Kevin Shenkman to file a lawsuit.

Rex served as counsel and advisor to Shenkman during the lawsuit against Lancaster's neighboring city, Palmdale, CA. In 2015, Palmdale officials finally agreed to amend its election process, choosing leadership by four geographic districts, rather than the former at-large election.

Palmdale was scrutinized for its late adoption of the by-district election process. The lawsuit cost the city $4.5 million plus interest in lawyer fees and payment to three plaintiffs. Rex said he was disappointed by neighboring Palmdale's staunch position, noting that "precious tax dollars" were used in an attempt to "keep a system that violated the law of California and amounted to electoral discrimination."

Philanthropy
After winning a string of large cases, Rex increased his charitable donations and sponsored academic grants. Rex and his wife, Carrol Parris, donated $1 million to Pepperdine University for the establishment of the Parris Institute of Professional Formation in 2014 to help with the professional development of first-year law students.

Rex also helped establish R. Rex Parris High School, a high school in Lancaster’s neighboring city, Palmdale in 2001. The primary mission of R. Rex Parris High School is to serve those students who are significantly behind in meeting their high school graduation requirements. Additionally, the school serves students who have consistently violated school discipline rules, substance abuse infractions, and severe attendance issues in other Antelope Valley public and charter schools. R. Rex Parris High School has served approximately 1000 students per academic year, with 600 to 700 attending at any one time.

He is also the founder of a number of charities including Lancaster Child Abuse Task Force, Antelope Valley War on Gangs, and Valley Volunteers Program.

Political Career
Since Rex took office in 2008, unemployment rates have dropped and the city has been commended internationally for transforming into a "clean energy powerhouse." Further, statistics from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office show that Rex has helped bring the crime rate in Lancaster down by almost 30%, with gang-related crimes down by 80%.

Rex says he aims to make Lancaster "the best small city in America." For instance, he has received media attention for his plan to make Lancaster residents more content by playing bird noises over the public sound system. He wants to build sidewalks that calm the mind, with gentle "wave-like curves." He supported a program called the Opportunity Bus Pass Program, which covers the expense of a one-way bus ticket for homeless people to return to their hometowns or wherever they have support. Rex even donated $10,000 to the program.

Rex brings his wife and business partner, Carrol, to many mayorial functions, looking to her for support in his office.

Rex's current mayorial term expires in April, 2020.

Green Energy
In his early days as mayor of Lancaster, Rex traveled to a renewable energy conference in Dubai. There, he came to the realization that he could turn the sunny setting of Antelope Valley to Lancaster's advantage, with solar power. After checking solar radiation maps of the area, his hunch was confirmed and he set a goal for the city to become a net-zero energy community.

In partnership with Solar City, Rex completed the first test building: city hall. The benefits were immediate as the cost of power dropped by half for the municipal building. Within two years, the technology was saving the city of Lancaster tens of thousands of dollars in utility costs, and brought in close to $400,000.

Under Rex's leadership, Lancaster has quickly become one of the leading cities in the country for solar technology. During a recent interview with the New York Times, Rex said he "absolutely" thinks climate change is a threat to our world. Rex said he realized that one of the big limiting factors surrounding solar energy was the amount of time and work required to get all the necessary permits and approvals. So he made all solar permits in Lancaster same-day over-the-counter.

In 2013, Rex made Lancaster the first US city to require every new home be constructed with solar panels. That same year, Rex persuaded Chinese car maker Build Your Dreams (BYD) to open a factory in Lancaster. The factory started building electric buses and batteries for vehicles and homes. This deal is widely considered to have been a great success. Since 2013, BYD has expanded to over 400 US employees and plans to reach 625 in 2018.

Anti-Gang Measures
"There is no mercy. You don't work with them, you destroy them. It's simple," Rex once said about gangs. In 2009, when the Mongols motorcycle club was planning to host its annual meeting at a hotel in Lancaster, Rex immediately shut the hotel down, citing several violations including the hotel's failure to pay the transient occupancy tax. That same year, in an attempt to dissuade the use and abuse of pit bulls by gangs, Rex passed a law allowing the city to castrate unregistered pit bulls.

In 2012, Rex started to use a spy plane to monitor crime in his city. Despite protest from some residents, the plans were met with general approval.

His critics have referred to him as an "arrogant bully," and an "unstoppable control freak." However, statistics show his tactics are working (see Political Career).