Multnomah County prosecutors’ union concerned about comments district attorney made about challenger

Days before Multnomah County ballots are due, the union that represents prosecutors said it was concerned about a statement District Attorney Mike Schmidt made about his challenger for the seat, Senior Deputy District Attorney Nathan Vasquez.

The Multnomah County Prosecuting Attorneys Association board told Schmidt that it was “deeply concerned with the implication” of a statement he made to The Oregonian, according to a May 14 email OPB obtained through a records request.

In a May 5 article about the race, The Oregonian wrote: “If voters return him to office, Schmidt said he can’t imagine maintaining a working relationship with Vasquez given the bitterness of the campaign.

“‘I’m going to want people in leadership positions that support the will of the voters,’” he said.

Related: OPB's Ballot Guide: Meet the candidates and learn what's at stake in Oregon's May 21 primary election

Union board members said they took Schmidt to mean that he would not have a working relationship with Vasquez, if Schmidt wins reelection. And they say Schmidt won’t want people who support Vasquez in leadership roles in the office.

“This type of statement adds to the fearful state of the office and implies political retaliation,” the union stated in its email. “This is especially concerning as DA Schmidt has ceased meeting with the MCPAA Board after our members voted to endorse SDDA Vasquez, and as DA Schmidt is currently dealing with a grievance from a member regarding political retaliation.”

Vasquez is a member of the prosecutors’ union. The union endorsed Vasquez and contributed $5,000 to his campaign.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Shawn Overstreet, the union’s president, said the email chastising Schmidt was meant as an internal document that was not meant to become public.

“It was sent to management in the interest, protection and benefit of the membership,” Overstreet told OPB Thursday.

Related: Multnomah County district attorney race: A progressive prosecutor vs. a challenger colleague

Andrew Rogers, Schmidt’s campaign manager, told OPB in a statement that Schmidt was aware of the union contract and will always respect and uphold it.

“What he said was simply to acknowledge that the relationship with Vasquez is difficult given the rhetoric that has come from Vasquez during the campaign,” Rogers wrote. “And he said that he wants people in leadership positions who will support the will of the voters when he’s reelected. That’s a no-brainer in a democratically elected office.”

Ballots must be postmarked or dropped off by Tuesday, May 21.

The race for district attorney is usually a relatively quiet affair focused on legal policy. But this year’s campaign between coworkers has turned especially heated and political with dueling bar complaints and other accusations. Supporters of Schmidt, who ran as a progressive four years ago, have accused Vasquez of being too conservative on crime for traditionally liberal Portland. And backers of Vasquez have blamed Schmidt’s approach to the law with fueling a rise in public drug abuse and property crimes.