[ga] Campaigning is good; stealth is bad

[Weisberg <weisberg@texoma.net>]

> Yes, personally, I feel any candidate that feels a need to "campaign"
> for the position is probably not the kind of candidate needed for that
> position.

I think it is helpful and honorable for candidates to state their
positions and demonstrate how they would handle various situations which
they might face if entrusted with an office.  In fact, I like long and
brutal campaigns in most political settings so the candidates' real
attributes may become exposed. I don't like people sliding by without
contest.  

In a small professional group, such as this, much less is needed.  But,
the best candidate for the job may not be best known.  And, people don't
pay that much attention to who stands for what or who has which
qualifications or leadership traits until they are put to a choice, at
which time they appreciate information with which to make informed
decisions.  

In this case, you may already have made and will not be swayed from your
first choice for Chair.  But since we are using an election system based
upon how we rank the candidates, you may need help deciding the order of
your preference with regard to the other three candidates, especially
since we are filling two positions.  As we have seen, the office of
alternate chair is not ceremonial.  Thus, we need to think about
candidates with whom we are less familiar.  

Thus, candidates should not be made to feel self-conscious about
speaking up during this stage of the election.
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