Report Card

A People’s Report Card and Voter Guide from Oregon DA for the People.
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This voter guide includes a brief summary on the powers of the district attorney (DA) and the Oregon DA for the People campaign. Here, we grade the public statements and policy proposals of both Multnomah County district attorney candidates Ethan Knight and Mike Schmidt. Across the United States, there is a growing movement to demand that district attorneys (DAs) work to end mass incarceration. We outline a set of Oregon-specific policies in the People’s Platform for doing this. Before voting in the crucial May 19, 2020 DA election, we hope you’ll research the candidates, learn about the issues, and join our movement.

Disclaimer: The role of this campaign is to hold the DA accountable to the demands of the people no matter who is elected. So, we are not endorsing either candidate.

Summary of our Report Card

Multnomah County deserves a DA who gives more than lip service to addressing the harm caused by our crisis of mass incarceration. While the candidates often use similar language, their policies are very different. In this report card, we focus on policies that harm vulnerable community members or reinforce the power of a violent system.

If we come off as tough graders, it’s because we know that the status quo fails to protect our community and keep us safe.

Who is the DA?

If you don’t know who the district attorney is or what they do, you’re not alone. But your vote in Multnomah County’s district attorney election on May 19th will be one of the most important you cast this year. The DA is the most powerful position in the local criminal legal system. As top prosecutor in the county, DAs decide who gets charged with a crime and who doesn’t, and how severe the charges will be.

DAs influence every stage of the legal process, like bail, plea deals, and the grand jury. They decide when—and whether—evidence will be turned over to defense attorneys. Each DA shapes the culture of prosecution in their county by setting policies that all prosecutors in their office must follow. Tough-on-crime DAs are maintaining the daily violence of the racist, unjust criminal legal system.

District Attorneys have the power to hold police officers accountable for misconduct. But because DAs rely on police to bring them cases to prosecute. This means they rarely charge or fully prosecute police officers accused of racial profiling, corruption, brutality or murder. Despite their vast influence, DAs themselves can’t be prosecuted for their conduct when handling cases. District attorneys often run unopposed, and outgoing DAs will often choose someone just like them to run. But because the District Attorney is an elected position, we have the power to demand better.

In cities like Philadelphia, San Francisco, Boston, and New York, movements are reducing the violence of the criminal legal system by electing district attorney candidates willing to work with the community—and then holding them accountable to the demands of the community once they reach office.

Now, Multnomah County voters can join the movement.

The Oregon DA for the People campaign works to decrease the harm that the criminal legal system has on communities of color and other marginalized groups like Pacific Northwest Family Circle (PNWFC). This is a group that supports the justice struggle of families whose loved ones were killed or injured by police officers. The campaign started with the leadership of PNWFC, and the support of Showing Up for Racial Justice Portland (SURJ PDX). We have since grown into a powerful coalition of community organizations. The demands are supported by over 500 community members. Together, we are shifting the landscape of the Oregon legal system while building towards a world without prisons.

The People’s Platform includes specific demands for Multnomah County’s next district attorney. Each demand emerged through the feedback and experience of those who have faced the violence of our criminal legal system firsthand. These include people from Black, Brown, Indigenous, and immigrant communities; families whose loved ones were killed by police; people who are currently and formerly incarcerated; people who use illegal drugs; sex workers; and people experiencing houselessness. In place of the current status quo, we are building community power to self-determine what safety and healing look like.

This May, voters will choose between two candidates in Multnomah County’s District Attorney election: Ethan Knight and Mike Schmidt. Comparing their policies, platforms, and rhetoric is key to make an informed choice in the election this May. It will also help us prepare for the long-term work of holding our next DA accountable to the people they are elected to serve. We know that the work doesn’t end with an election. The vote you cast this May can help keep our community safe by reducing the daily harm caused by the legal system.

Grading the Candidates

This DA candidate voter guide and report card draws on statements made by the candidates on their websites, through social media, at the Oregon DA for the People community-led candidate forum, and in a recent virtual debate. We have met separately with both candidates as well.

We questioned them in writing on their policies relevant to our People’s Platform. While both candidates initially promised to answer, Ethan Knight did not. Mr. Knight also missed a candidate forum hosted by Advancing Collective Equity on December 1st. We note in our report card where the public lacks information on his positions as a result.