Re: Extending the call for candidates (was Re: Withdrawal of board of idrectors candidacy)

["Karen Sandler" <karen gnome org>]

On Thu, May 23, 2013 4:57 pm, Richard Stallman wrote:
> It is not a good thing when there are so few candidates
> that nearly all have to be elected.  With just 8 candidates
> and a 7-member board, we are only voting about which single
> one of these candidate not to put on the board.  That is getting
> pretty close to no choice at all.  What would we do if there were
> only 7 candidates?  If there were only 6?

I think in the instance that there are not enough candidates to elect, the
empty spots would be treated as vacancies under the bylaws. I'd need to
check, but I think then the directors in office can fill the remaining
spots.

That said, I don't think that we are near that position at this point that
we really need to worry about it. My point about the candidates this time
being really strong is that I think there were a few people who were
thinking of running but who decided not to run against the people who had
already put themselves forward.

> I propose changing the election rules for future elections so that if
> the number of candidates is less than 7/4 the size of the board, there
> will be another request for candidates, giving 5 days for people to
> step forward.
I don't object to this change, but I worry about the wait and see attitude
it could encourage for people who might be more timid about running. I
don't like the idea of two waves of nominations if we could avoid it, and
if only 7 people throw their hats in the ring, if they are solid
candidates I don't think there's a problem with that. As I was saying
above, I think there's been some self selection this time.

karen

> If that squeezes the subsequent step, then expand it
> by moving all the previous dates 5 days earlier.
>
>
> --
> Dr Richard Stallman
> President, Free Software Foundation
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