The Shedd Institute
REMEMBERING MISA SMITH
1929 — 2012
There are a few people who quietly infl uence and bring out the best in this city.
These people never seek center stage or public attention; they simply live from
day to day doing what they have to do with dignity and strength, contributing
immensely to our local culture.
Such a person was Misa Smith [who died Sept. 17]. She has been a constant
measure of what is right about Eugene. A tiny lady with a wry and quiet sense of
humor, Misa would look about the various Smith Family enterprises and comment,
“Well, I certainly didn’t expect to be doing this.” Misa, the mom of fi ve kids,
always there at endless EBAA [now called Kidsports] games and school events,
unexpectedly found herself having to take over the helm of the family business.
As the head of Smith Family Bookstore, she supported countless Eugene cultural
programs and was a quiet role model, instilling in four generations a love of books
and the written word.
This successful businesswoman believed in the importance of civil rights and
the worth of all cultures and demonstrated these values through her participation
in our community. She cared. She mattered. She made a difference.
It is amazing that this tiny woman from a little mining town in the West had
the determination to come to Eugene to the University of Oregon. Certainly she
came to an entirely different environment. Then, after seeing herself as a full-time
mom to a big family she had to suddenly step in and become the head of a family
business upon the declining health of her husband. Misa was a fairy godmother in
the wonderland of books to my children, my grandchildren, and my grandchildren’s
children. And, as she would frequently say to me, “You do what you have to do.”
Karen Alvarado
Eugene
Many of us progressives are supporting
him because we want a candidate who not
only has the right values but knows how to
work with others to see them enacted. But
all of his donors support him because they
know that whatever their leaning, he will
hear their concerns, weigh their input and
craft a proposal that is good for Eugene
that can get passed by the City Council.
Betty won’t even take their call.
Jon Belcher
Eugene
MOST VALUABLE COUNCILOR
Does experience and achievement
count? Betty Taylor introduced and saw
passed in the City Council the advisory
resolution against the infringement of
civil rights and liberties contained in the
PATRIOT Act. On the scoring of basic civil
rights alone, Betty is, as former Oregon
congressman Jim Weaver points out, “the
most valuable member of the City Council.”
Then again, even if you take your civil
rights and free speech for granted you may
want to re-elect Councilor Taylor. If you own
a dog in Eugene, or have gone to a concert
in the parks enjoying the clean air and water,
you should be thankful she is on the council.
Betty continues the fi ght to protect the
Amazon headwaters, to protect the air basin
against coal dust and other pollutants. She
was also a leader in the creation of Eugene’s
original six dog parks — these parks have
the most user visits of any parks in the city,
according to Parks and Recreation. Dislike
dogs? By designating the off-leash dog
areas, the city has signifi cantly reduced
off-leash dogs in the other city parks.
Councilor Taylor promises to remain
an effective advocate for local arts,
recreation, and education, as well as an
incorruptible backbone for environmental
protection. It’s not surprising that the real
estate speculators and big timber interests
have targeted her and aggressively
bankrolled her opponent.
Kayte McDonald
Eugene
THE EASY CHOICE
Our law fi rm supports writing in Judge
Jay McAlpin for judge. (Dog-in-fi ght full
disclosure: Arnold Law practices family
law and criminal defense, so we will be
appearing in front of the incumbent.) I am
worried about the many non-lawyers who
have expressed concern that McAlpin has
a legion of DAs campaigning on his behalf.
Yes, it’s the easy choice to support a
sitting judge that you have to appear in
front of each day. The incumbent almost
always wins. It’s a low risk endorsement
for them and a low risk endorsement for
us. Nonetheless, I write at the risk of
appearing to make the easy choice as well.
I have had jury trials in front of both
McAlpin and Municipal Court Judge Alan
Leiman, McAlpin’s opponent (the two
most qualifi ed candidates, in our opinion).
Both have ruled against me on issues and
have both done so with sound, reasoned
opinions (that I’m sure I still complained
about in private). Consequently, I feel very
informed about this election.
Our endorsement of McAlpin, however,
comes after a recent jury spoke highly of
him in open court after a trial. After the
jury acquitted our client, McAlpin excused
them. Typically the jurors leaves the
courtroom but this time something unusual
happened: The foreman surprisingly piped
up and said, “Can we say something?”
Then he spoke on behalf of the jury, saying
that they appreciated the way McAlpin
conducted his courtroom and expressed
their satisfaction with jury service.
Their endorsement of McAlpin’s in-
court conduct speaks more persuasively
than any attorneys with a vested interest
ever could. Join us in writing in “Jay
McAlpin” for judge on the ballot. Don’t
forget to fi ll in the oval next to his name.
Mike Arnold
Managing partner at Arnold Law
Eugene
www.theshedd.org - 541-434-7000
Oct 22
PS C
Natalie MacMaster
Pacific Sinus Center
minimally invasive sinus surgery
Dr. James J. Knackstedt
The Carl Woideck
Jazz Heritage Project
Soul Jazz
Thursday, Oct 25
Oct 27
Bill Charlap
A Shedd Institute presentation - www.theshedd.org
eugeneweekly.com • October 18, 2012
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