Nathan Vasquez

EARLY LIFE

Nathan’s great-grandparents immigrated to the United States from Guatemala as political refugees. They moved their family to California, where they established roots. Nathan’s great-grandfather, Enrique “Henry” Vasquez was an accountant. Nathan’s grandfather, Guillermo “William” Vasquez, would go on to become a doctor, and his wife, Rachel, a nurse.

Nathan’s father, Randolph, and his mother, Elaine, would go on to marry in the early 1970s. Interracial marriage would be legalized just 10 years before Nathan’s birth. As a kid, Nathan worked in the forests with his father, a forester, where his deep love for the environment and passion for stewardship took shape. Nathan’s uncle, David Vasquez, is who would inspire him to eventually become a lawyer.

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EDUCATION & CAREER

Education: Nathan attended University of California Davis, where he developed an interest in government, taking several internships in local and state level politics, wanting to understand how our systems can work to protect our natural environment and public spaces. Nathan went on to earn his Juris Doctorate at Lewis and Clark Northwestern School of Law, with a specialization in Environmental Law. During law school, Nathan accepted an internship at the Multnomah County District Attorney’s (MCDA) Office, and realized that working in service to crime victims was how he wanted to spend his career.

Career: Since 2001, Nathan has been employed as a prosecutor at MCDA, having prosecuted nearly every type of crime - from misdemeanor trespass to aggravated homicide. The vast majority of his career has been dedicated to 'person crimes', working directly with victims of violent crimes and their families, doing all he could to provide them justice and closure during the worst moments of their lives.

Leader in Diversion Programs: In 2018, Nathan took over the "Neighborhood Unit," which focused on community engagement, and pioneered MCDA's Strategic Prosecution Unit - a model that uses objective data to inform the decisions and actions of prosecutors and law enforcement, focusing on root causes of criminal behavior and creative solutions to prevent recidivism. His unit has led some of the most successful prison diversion programs, and also created the "High Volume System User" model to identify and interrupt some of the most prolific repeat offenders in Multnomah County.

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FAMILY

Nathan has lived and worked in Multnomah County since 1999, where he has raised his two children, and lives with his wife, Malia. He is dedicated the fundamental belief that two things can be true at once. We can be compassionate about people's life circumstances, recognizing the complex issues that drive some individuals into the criminal justice system. At the same time, we can and must hold people accountable for their actions when they harm our communities. Nathan’s vision for the District Attorney's office is one that balances these principles. We aim to implement policies that address the root causes of crime while ensuring that those who break the law face appropriate consequences. By doing so, we can create a safer and more just community for everyone.