User:Slowking4/Why i think the Heilman matter is a strategic mistake

(English) This is an essay. It expresses the opinions and ideas of some Wikimedians but may not have wide support. This is not policy on Meta, but it may be a policy or guideline on other Wikimedia projects. Feel free to update this page as needed, or use the discussion page to propose major changes.

sitrep

• 2015 James Heilman elected to board with 1,857 votes 76.26% [1]
• confirmed by board in July
• dismissed by board in December
• board can act based on majority vote.
• 2017 James Heilman elected to board with 2,435 votes 80.76%[2]
• confirmed by board in August

observations

• the board reversing itself within 6 months seems capricious
• the board repudiating a community vote seems highhanded
• the community seems consistent in the choice of representative
• the board appears, in the fullness of time, to work with this member

conclusions

• there seems to be a disinclination, unwillingness to deal with conflict, in a forthright way
• there seems to be a lack of listening to expert editors, who give negative feedback
• there seems to be an unwillingness, inability to deal with people problems
• there seems to be an ability to learn from bad outcomes after the fact