Hello Eugene Weekly reader!

Let’s begin with an election question! And then we are going to end with an important moment at the Lane County Commission meeting today.

The election: Because they are so often uncontested, most voters forget that Lane County Circuit Court judges are elected to their positions. The May primary features a contested race.

Incumbent Lane County Circuit Court Judge Amit Kapoor is facing a challenge from attorney Katina Saint Marie — a race we mentioned in Slant a couple weeks ago. Know who you are voting for? What should voters look for in a judge? We have reached out to Kapoor and Saint Marie for interviews. Weigh in here in our short survey!

Moving on to arts and culture! Longtime local photographer Todd Cooper took full advantage of the music scene in the last few weeks — check out his shots of Jeff Tweedy (of Uncle Tupelo and Wilco fame) at The Shedd’s Jaqua Concert Hall March 30.

And then head over to this photo gallery from Father John Misty’s show at the McDonald Theatre April 2. What are you missing out on? Here’s a video of one of his shows. And if you are not a Tweedy fan yet, here’s a fav from ‘90s era Uncle Tupelo — “I Got Drunk” to get you started.

Any music on the horizon we should be writing about? A fav local band? Let Calendar editor Savannah Brown know! Bonus points for tips on cover bands — Savannah’s a cover band gal. Find her at Cal@EugeneWeekly.com.

That’s also the email to use if our calendar is driving you nuts — it’s driving us nuts! The good news is we are transitioning to a new (and similar) online platform this week and the issues with our What’s Happening Calendar will clear up. If need be, just skip the online version and pick up a copy in print or go to Archive.org where you can read a flipbook of this week’s calendar or any damn Weekly going back to 2003 (there’s a bonus 1982 issue there). And don’t forget! The University of Oregon Library is working on a digital archive of Weeklys going back to the days we were What’s Happening.

We’re on an arts kick today! So don’t forget — Earth Day is coming and we want to publish your kids’ and grandkids’ environmental art! We are asking for artists from kindergarten through eighth grade to draw themselves doing something they love in the outdoors, what they can do to help the planet or their favorite wildlife. Find more information — and templates for the art submissions here! Send the art, names, ages and schools by April 9 to McKenzie@EugeneWeekly.com or drop them off at 1251 Lincoln Street!

Oh no, we are not done yet! Did we mention we’re on an arts kick? If you’re out there doing the kind of arts, culture, humanities or heritage work that makes this place special — or know someone who is — send them our way! Through a partnership with the Lane County Cultural Coalition, Eugene Weekly is offering free promotional support to a handful of local organizations and events. We’re especially looking for underrepresented, underfunded, under-the-radar types. Apply or nominate by April 23 by contacting JJ at 541-484-0519 or Office@EugeneWeekly.com.

— Camilla

PS. Back to news. The Lane County Board of Commissioners meeting today was a sign of the times — and a victory for women who clap back. Public commenter Ruben Garcia — wearing a Jake Pelroy for County Commission cap — took Commissioner Laurie Trieger to task for not letting him hug her a couple weeks ago. You can watch his comments here starting at about 29 minutes in as he chastises her for telling him not to touch her and then demands an apology in a truly WTF moment.

Even better if you watch Trieger’s response to his misogynistic comments about 45 minutes in when later in the meeting she said — emotionally and powerfully:

“I have held in for 30 years the fact that you sexually harassed me when I worked for your company. People in this organization have heard me talk about cleaning office buildings at night, waiting tables, working in a number of different low-wage jobs — when my family was young, and we struggled.

And you were one of those employers. You were one of those employers, sir. And I have never stated publicly that particular fact that I experienced. And when you came up to me, presuming it was OK to hug me, and I stood back and said, ‘You do not have permission to touch me,’ and that offended you. That is what happened out in the lobby.

For men to come before this body and speak to the two women here as if they have a right to expect women to smile and demur and allow them to touch them or hug them or approach them in whatever way the man chooses and that he’s embarrassed if we don’t let him, is a problem.

The fact that Commissioner [Heather] Buch and I are only the sixth and seventh woman respectively to ever have served on this body — in a county established in 1851 — tells you something about what this community is prepared to see as leadership and respect as leadership.”

Buch, Commissioner Pat Farr and others in the audience applauded. We do as well.

Her whole statement is worth listening to.