Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee Elections December 2009/Candidate statements/Wehwalt

Wehwalt

I won't bore you with a long spiel, but here's why I'm running for ArbCom:

I'm qualified and able to handle the work. I'm a lawyer in real life, so understanding of ArbCom procedures and the necessarily analysis and writing are things I can do.

As for qualifications on Wikipedia, here are my article achievements for 2009:

Template:FA-icon Woodes Rogers (and TFA)
Template:FA-icon Murray Chotiner (and TFA)
Template:FA-icon Rudolf Wolters (with two other editors, went TFA)
Template:FA-icon Franklin Knight Lane (and TFA)
Template:FA-icon Matthew Boulton (and TFA)
Template:FA-icon Jerry Voorhis
Template:FA-icon United States Senate election in California, 1950 (WP:FOUR)
Template:FA-icon California's 12th congressional district election, 1946 (WP:FOUR)
Neville Chamberlain

I'm a member for over four years and an admin for 11 months, though I use my adminly powers fairly rarely. I'm an article writer, principally, and as of this writing have 14 FAs (13 of which I took through FAC, so I play well with others), 2 GAs and 50 DYKs. I have helped take WP:TFA/R from a train wreck to a smoothly running process (though honestly I was not terribly helpful when I started). Much of that credit, though, is due to the other commentators who keep what could be a very emotional process (as in FAC, everyone thinks very highly of their article) low key, and to the Featured Article Director. I've monitored the goings on at ArbCom since the Advisory Committee matter, which I'll address below.

I realize that my views will be drawn out more with the questions, so I'll keep my platform brief. ArbCom should stick to arbitrating as it has done, until and unless there is a community process to expand its role. The problem with the Advisory Committee proposal earlier this year was not so much the content, as the method. People don't like surprises. There should have been a much more gradual approach to keep the community informed and involved.