Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2005-11-28/ArbCom election

The Wikipedia Arbitration Committee and Jimbo Wales announced that all Wikipedians interested in running and serving on the ArbCom should place their name on the candidates' page immediately in order to be considered. Under the changes Jimbo made last month, the Committee and Jimbo will select several candidates, who will all then be confirmed by either a majority or supermajority of Wikipedians. Both the number of candidates, the exact process, and the approximate percentage required to pass are currently unclear, with several Arbitrators also indicating that they are also unsure of the exact procedure. It is expected that Jimbo will announce details in the coming weeks.

Arbitrator Raul654 commented on Saturday that he "strongly suggest[s] to anyone who wishes to be considered for the Arbitration Committee" that they list themselves on the candidates' statement page "immediately (like 3 hours ago)". He later confirmed that the committee and Jimbo will begin deliberations and discussions soon regarding the selection of the candidates.

Before and after the call for candidates, there was a flurry of activity on the candidates' page. Karmafist (statement), Morven (statement), and SimonP (statement) all declared their candidacies. In addition, current Arbitrators JayJG (statement), Kelly Martin (statement), and Mindspillage (statement) also declared their intentions to seek office again. Martin's announcement comes a week after she had stated that she would not run again; however, she addressed the issue by saying, "I've decided to reverse my previously announced intent not to run after a curious discussion with another editor who told me that people object to me being on ArbCom because I am too well-trusted and well-respected in the community. Apparently, being trustworthy and respected are qualities not desired in Arbitration Committee members. I found this argument so brazenly illogical that it convinced me to run."