Nathan Vasquez (lawyer) explained
Nathan Vasquez is an American attorney who is the District Attorney-elect of Multnomah County, Oregon. In the May 2024 election, Vasquez defeated incumbent Mike Schmidt, who was previously his superior in the department.[1] [2]
Career
In 2001, Vasquez graduated from Lewis & Clark Law School. He joined the Multnomah County District Attorney's office as an intern, and later as a prosecutor.[3] [4]
In 2022, Vasquez prosecuted the second-degree murder case of Benjamin Smith stemming from the February 2022 Normandale Park shooting.
In April 2024, Vasquez faced an ethics complaint before the Oregon State Bar when, in election material, he publicly accused a man of being a serial killer despite the man facing no charges.[5] The Oregon State Bar ultimately dismissed the complaint, citing "no sufficient basis to warrant a referral to Disciplinary Counsel."
2024 District Attorney election
In 2023, Vasquez announced his intention to challenge incumbent Schmidt in the 2024 election.
During the campaign, Vasquez has earned broad support from Portland's public safety unions and business leaders.[6] He received sizable campaign contributions from business leaders like Phil Knight and Tim Boyle.[2] Before the primary election on May 21, 2024, Vasquez was endorsed by The Oregonian[7] and Willamette Week.[8]
Notes and References
- News: Wilson . Conrad . May 24, 2023 . Multnomah County DA Mike Schmidt draws 2024 challenger from the inside . live . May 1, 2024 . Oregon Public Broadcasting . February 24, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240224091030/https://www.opb.org/article/2023/05/24/multnomah-county-district-attorney-election-mike-schmidt-nathan-vasquez-senior-deputy-prosecutor/ .
- News: Manfield . Lucas . November 15, 2023 . Nathan Vasquez Builds a Big Fundraising Lead in District Attorney Race . live . May 1, 2024 . Willamette Week . May 2, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240502075902/https://www.wweek.com/news/2023/11/14/nathan-vasquez-builds-a-big-fundraising-lead-in-district-attorney-race/ .
- News: Crombie . Noelle . May 26, 2023 . Longtime prosecutor says he will challenge Multnomah County DA Mike Schmidt . live . May 1, 2024 . The Oregonian . April 30, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240430213720/https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2023/05/longtime-prosecutor-says-he-will-challenge-multnomah-county-da-mike-schmidt.html .
- Web site: 2024-05-21 . Progressive prosecutor in Portland, Oregon, seeks to fend off tough-on-crime challenger in DA race . 2024-05-26 . WSAV-TV . en-US.
- News: Wilson . Conrad . April 26, 2024 . Ethics complaint dismissed against candidate for Multnomah County DA . live . May 1, 2024 . Oregon Public Broadcasting.
- News: Manfield . Lucas . February 12, 2024 . Six Public Safety Unions Endorse Nathan Vasquez . live . May 1, 2024 . Willamette Week . February 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240217012203/https://www.wweek.com/news/courts/2024/02/12/six-public-safety-unions-endorse-nathan-vasquez/ .
- News: The Oregonian Editorial Board . May 3, 2024 . Editorial endorsement May 2024: Vote for Nathan Vasquez for Multnomah County DA . live . May 3, 2024 . The Oregonian . May 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240503153733/https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2024/05/editorial-endorsement-may-2024-vote-for-nathan-vasquez-for-multnomah-county-da.html .
- News: WW Staff . May 1, 2024 . WW's May 2024 Endorsements: Multnomah County . live . May 3, 2024 . Willamette Week.
