Portland Police Union Backs Rene Gonzalez Bid To Unseat Hardesty

PORTLAND, OR — With the primary election less than one month away, Rene Gonzalez received a big endorsement Monday.

The Portland Police Association, the union that represents the city's police officers, threw its support behind his campaign to unseat city Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty.

It was not a surprise that the union would not endorse Hardesty given that they've clashed over the past four years as she called for more police oversight.

"Rene Gonzalez immediately struck our board as a no-nonsense collaborator," Portland Police Association President Aaron Schmautz said in a statement. "He calmly and confidently defined the problem our city is facing.

"He demonstrated a willingness to not only recognize problems in our community but to lead in bringing together those impacted and organizing around communities not differences."

Vadim Mozyrsky, a federal administrative law judge, is also in the race.

Patch has reached out to Hardesty and Mozyrsky for reaction to the endorsement.