Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee Elections December 2013/Candidates/AGK/Statement

AGK

I have served as a member of the committee for the past two years. I am willing to serve for a further term, and submit myself for your consideration.

Over the past two years, I have voted in countless arbitration proceedings, and drafted decisions for around a third of the caseload I was active on. I have always voted carefully and promptly, in addition to assisting with the committee’s behind-the-scenes work: I am highly active with the committee’s Ban Appeals and Audit Subcommittees, and in several other areas. As a drafter, I have always tried to write an effective decision, engage with case disputants, respond to comments on the case talk pages, and float my proposals in advance.

Throughout my service, I have borne the encyclopedia, its articles, and its writers firmly in mind – I have always tried to vote in the way that is best for the project. As an arbitrator, I have never blindly toed the party line: I always speak out against positions or proposals I think are misguided, unfair, or not in the project’s best interests – both in discussions and public votes. I am experienced, dedicated, fair, and capable.

Outside of arbitration, I continue to be active – whenever I can – as a copyeditor, and on some assorted Classics and other articles. I was appointed as a community auditor for the Audit Subcommittee, and later as a community checkuser, in 2011. Before that, I was active as an arbitration enforcement (AE) administrator and as chairman of the Mediation Committee. I have been an administrator for six years. My experience has given me the highest regard for three groups of editors in particular: our intelligent and hard-working copyeditors and content writers; our diligent functionaries and project administrators; and our dispute resolution experts. Wikipedia has a balanced and rich community; as an arbitrator, I have always respected this blend of personalities, and did my best never to intrude on a Wikipedian’s business unless absolutely necessary.

I support ArbCom openness and continued devolution.

I’m fast running out of space – it seems I’ve got more to say than I thought – but all contributors are welcome to put questions to me. Thank you very much for your consideration.

As a sitting arbitrator, I am already identified to the Wikimedia Foundation. I only edit as User:AGK but a complete list of other accounts owned by me are listed here.