[AfriNIC-rpd] Public Comments on the PDWG Co-Chair Candidate

[Andrew Alston]

I actually have to agree with Mark.  The work of the PDP is validated by the board, and the board has to agree to implement the policies established under the PDP.  With a PDP Chair or Co-Chair also sitting on the board, there is a direct conflict of interest here, and while I understand that sometimes conflicts are unavoidable and can be dealt with simply by the member in conflict excusing themselves from all discussions around the issue, I do not believe it is in the best interests of the organization for an already obvious conflict of interest to be embraced rather than avoided.

It is my view that if you are chairing or co-chairing the PDP, you should be forced to resign the position the moment you choose to run for board.  You can't really have this both ways, I.E "If I win the board election, then I'll resign from the PDP", because that also creates problems.  It means that only after the board elections are complete can a decision be taken to potentially replace the now vacant PDP spot.  Considering that typically the elections are held on the last day of the meetings, this currently doesn't leave much time to deal with the issue and make a sensible appointment.

I will be proposing a specific bylaw amendment regarding holding dual positions like this though, through the comment submission system on the website as relating to the bylaw discussions.

Thanks

Andrew

On 17 May 2012, at 12:55 PM, Mark Elkins wrote:

> I'm upset with what Paulos is doing. The positions (Board and PDP Chair)
> are obviously in conflict - a person should be able to see you can be
> one or the other - but not both - and not need explicit rules about it
> either. A true leader of our community should be able to see that and as
> a minimum step down from one of the appointments without jeopardising
> our process system.
> 
> Paulos should be very aware he volunteered for a two year term as PDPWG
> Chair - as was the AfriNIC community. Its a two year term to provide
> overlap from one co-chair to the next - so there is continuity and
> stability in the PDP process. Yes, the community is in-charge of the PDP
> process - but we need a stable process from beginning to end.
> 
> 
> 
> On Thu, 2012-05-17 at 11:10 +0000, Douglas Onyango wrote:
>> Hi,
>> 
>> On 17 May 2012 09:45, McTim <dogwallah at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> IF Paulos chose to relinquish his seat as co-chair, this would put the
>>>>> PDPWG is a really precarious situation.
>>> 
>>> @ Douglas, not precarious at all, WE are the pdwg, we select co-chairs
>>> to follow us, not to lead!
>> 
>> McTim, I meant precarious from a continuity perspective. here is the
>> scenario i had in mind:
>> Our only candidate who isn't familiar with PDPWG activity or its
>> running manages to get elected as co-chair....Paulos relinquishes his
>> seat which is also taken up by another individual not very familiar
>> with the process.........
>> 
>> I know the PDP allows for replacing a candidate, but this wasn't my
>> core concern; mine is with continuity, which is why the staggered
>> terms are in the process.....
>> 
>> If the situation I describe above plays out, the continuity clause or
>> any other won't remedy this situation. This is why I alluded to
>> "precarious"
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Regards,
> 
> -- 
>  .  .     ___. .__      Posix Systems - (South) Africa
> /| /|       / /__       mje at posix.co.za  -  Mark J Elkins, Cisco CCIE
> / |/ |ARK \_/ /__ LKINS  Tel: +27 12 807 0590  Cell: +27 82 601 0496
> 
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