Big Out-of-State Money Starts Flowing Into Washington County DA’s Race

Bob Herman's retirement has made Oregon's second largest county a battleground for criminal justice reform.

By Nigel Jaquiss

A Washington, D.C.-based political action committee today disclosed a $100,000 contribution to an Oregon committee established to support Max Wall, who is running as the reform candidate in the primary election for the open Washington County district attorney's seat.

The PAC making the organization, the Law & Justice PAC, was established by Whitney Tymas, a former prosecutor turned political consultant who has helped the billionaire New York investor George Soros get involved in district attorneys' races around the country.

Soros has supported candidates that favor reducing incarceration rates.

As WW reported today, a local political action committee, the Oregon Law & Justice PAC, has bought television ad time for Wall's benefit.

Meanwhile, WW has learned, Nike Chairman Phil Knight, who like Soros is a multibillionaire, has committed at least $25,000 to Kevin Barton, a senior deputy DA in Washington County and the candidate who is running with the support of 15 Oregon DAs.

Wall and Barton are competing in the May 15 primary to succeed Herman.

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