Guest Post: Who should be Jackson County's next district attorney?
The district attorney recommends Patrick Green.
How would I possibly know if a candidate for district attorney was good at prosecuting cases? How would I know if a DA candidate would charge the right people with the right crimes? How would I know if a DA candidate would do a good job managing the DA's office?
I wouldn't. So here's what I do.
I pay attention to the opinion of people in the best position to know -- in this case the incumbent district attorney. I consider her a credible source. She has good word-of-mouth support from the attorneys I know and she has been re-elected several times.
I also look at the campaigns of the candidates. Those measure campaign activity and resources, which is an indirect signal of community support. Bigger campaigns are better. But campaign size doesn't do a good job signaling fitness for offices like judges and the district attorney. Those jobs aren't about representation. Those roles require a professional skillset. So I also look at job experience. And I notice who presents themselves with clarity and integrity in campaign literature and ads. I consider campaign behavior a signal of how one might act when in office.
Today is part one, a recommendation by the incumbent.
Coming soon is part two -- job experience and whether each campaign presents itself with clarity and integrity.
Guest Post by Beth Heckert
Patrick Green vs. Alyssa Bartholomew: Recommendation Patrick Green
The Jackson County district attorney position is not often a contested election. It really is an important position in our community, so I feel strongly that voters need to make an informed decision. I have served as your district attorney for 12 years and have been a prosecutor for 36 years in Jackson County. The position is nonpartisan and decisions that are made by the district attorney’s office should not be political.
I have worked with both candidates; seen how they interact with individuals and how they handle themselves in court. Patrick is my chief deputy. He runs the office in my absence. He has been a prosecutor in my office since 2016. He has handled the most complex cases, including murder cases, domestic violence and other violent crimes. He has dedicated his career to being a prosecutor and serving the community in that capacity.
His opponent, Alyssa Bartholomew, has been a public defender since 2005, working for Southern Oregon Public Defenders. She took a break from her job as a public defender and worked for Jackson County as a Senior Assistant County Counsel from 2007 - 2009. Being a public defender is a very noble profession. The system doesn’t work unless you have good competent attorneys on both sides. However, they are separate and distinct occupations. She has never prosecuted a criminal case in Oregon. You cannot simply be a defense attorney one day and the next be an experienced prosecutor, ready to lead the office. Also, to my knowledge, Alyssa has never held a position that required supervision skills. The Jackson County district attorney’s office is the largest law firm in the county, with 22 attorneys and 32 support staff.
There is a significant unanswered question that I have not heard Alyssa Bartholomew address. She will have a conflict with cases involving her previous clients. How will those cases be handled if she becomes the elected district attorney? Who will prosecute those cases? After she announced her candidacy, she was appointed to a murder case and many other cases. This issue will be a complicated one for the office. I don’t want to see victim cases delayed while this is sorted out.
Alyssa Bartholomew has also applied to become a Jackson County Circuit Court judge and the Medford municipal judge over the last few years. I sat on the governor’s panel of local attorneys to interview the judicial candidates. Alyssa stated to that group that being a judge was her passion. Maybe it is, but passion is important in this position as well. There have been four Jackson County district attorneys since 1968, and none have sought a judicial position. The district attorney should not be a stepping-stone to other positions.
If Patrick is elected, on day one he will hit the ground running. There is no learning curve. He has supervised attorneys and staff in the office; he has helped manage our budget; he has prosecuted cases. He is familiar with all our staff from advocates to attorneys.
Patrick Green is a dedicated prosecutor who has worked tirelessly for victims in our community to get justice. Patrick has support from law enforcement. He has already proven that he works collaboratively with community partners to improve the criminal justice system. Patrick has the qualities that I believe are the most important to the district attorney's office into the future: dedication, passion and experience.
I am a Neighborhood Leader and so value this feedback on candidates. I have met Alyssa Bartholomew and have listened to her share her story and vision. I liked her very much. However, I do not have depth of knowledge about Jackson County's District Attorney position, so this is very helpful. It adds an important layer conducive to making a good choice. Thank you.