Tough-on-crime Mayoral Candidate's Car Set on Fire in Blue City

 Robert Schmad

Daily Caller News Foundation

Police open arson probe

Police are looking into a potential arson outside the home of a blue-city mayoral candidate who has positioned himself as being tough on crime.

Rene Gonzalez is a Portland commissioner running for mayor in 2024 with a campaign focused on tackling “skyrocketing crime and out-of-control homelessness” in the city. The Portland Police Bureau opened an arson investigation after Gonzalez’s family car caught fire and was destroyed Friday morning.

TRENDING: 'No one's business is safe': U.S. city using dark scheme to steal property

Get the hottest, most important news stories on the Internet – delivered FREE to your inbox as soon as they break! Take just 30 seconds and sign up for WND's Email News Alerts!

Investigators believe the fire was “intentionally set,” according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Mike Schmidt, who serves as district attorney in the county where Portland is located, called the potential arson an “act of political vandalism,” Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.

Gonzalez put out a statement hours later confirming that no one had been harmed in the fire and thanking the Portland police for their “prompt response and assistance.”

Was this car fire arson?

Yes No 

Completing this poll entitles you to WND news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

A similar incident occurred in 2022 after Gonzalez won his city council election. A man who was described by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office as an “anarchist” wearing a black face mask was arrested for disorderly conduct while attending a protest three blocks away from Gonzalez’s campaign office on election night, KGW 8 reported.

Gonzalez, a businessman and a life-long Democrat, won his spot on Portland’s city council by portraying his opponent as being anti-police in the midst of the city’s rising violent crime and homelessness, Oregon Live reported. Gonzalez ran on increasing the number of police officers in the city and cracking down on property crimes.

Gonzalez is employing similar rhetoric in his run for mayor. He recently came out in favor of a city ordinance banning the use of drugs, for instance, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.

“I am running for Mayor to ensure the work we have begun on crime, homelessness, the drug crisis, and economic revitalization continue stronger than ever,” his campaign page reads.

Gonzalez’s office did not immediately return the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

This story originally was published by the Daily Caller News Foundation.