Re: [council] GNSO Vote for ICANN Board seat # 14

["Maureen Cubberley" <maureen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks for your reply Lucy. Good point.

Regards,
Maureen

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Lucy.Nichols@xxxxxxxxx 
  To: maureen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; Bruce.Tonkin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; 
council@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Cc: gnso.secretariat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 12:45 PM
  Subject: RE: [council] GNSO Vote for ICANN Board seat # 14


  As all interested candidates and their supporters are (or should be) aware of 
the timelines and procedure, I don't believe the nomination process should be 
reopened except for exceptional circumstances. Deciding at the last moment to 
solicit support to run is not, in my opinion, an "exceptional" circumstance.

  Regards,

  Lucy Nichols

  -----Original Message-----
  From: owner-council@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-council@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On 
Behalf Of ext Maureen Cubberley
  Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 10:09 AM
  To: Bruce Tonkin; council@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  Cc: GNSO.SECRETARIAT@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  Subject: Re: [council] GNSO Vote for ICANN Board seat # 14


  Bruce, Alick and Fellow Councillors,

  I am one of several GNSO Councillors who was contacted by Tim Ruiz ( of 
GoDaddy) last Friday - in my case, just an hour before the nomination period 
closed. Tim asked if I would nominate him for Board Seat #14. Because his 
telephone call to me occurred so close to the close of nominations, and I was 
travelling at the time, there was not time to determine whether or not a second 
nomination would be a good idea, or even time to consider whether Tim would be 
a suitable candidate. I advised him I would not be able to nominate him on such 
short notice.

  In the meantime, there has been some further correspondence. I have been 
contacted again by Tim, and he has contacted Bruce as to the process for 
extending nominations. Bruce has advised me that;

  "In terms of process, the nomination period is closed, but the Council
  could decide by vote to re-open the nomination period if there were
  suitable candidates.  A member of Council would need to propose a
  motion, and preferably have obtained some support from other councillors
  prior to the meeting."

  I wish to emphasize that it is not my purpose or intention in sending you 
this email to set up a challenge to Michael Palage's candidacy. I am, rather, 
responding in my capacity as a GNSO Councillor to a request from a member of 
the Registrar constituency, and attempting to determine whether there is 
interest amongst the Council members to entertain the possibility of 
considering another candidate. If there is, perhaps we could have this 
discussion during today's teleconference, and decide whether or not we want to 
take the necessary steps to re-open the nomination period. 

  Best regards,
  Maureen

  Maureen Cubberley

    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Bruce Tonkin 
    To: council@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    Cc: GNSO.SECRETARIAT@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2005 9:49 PM
    Subject: RE: [council] GNSO Vote for ICANN Board seat # 14


    Hello Alick,

    > 
    > In most other organisations, when there is only a single 
    > candidate, when nominations close the single candidate is 
    > declared elected unopposed and there is no vote.

    That is not the case for the ICANN Board elections.

    From the bylaws, Article X, section 3, paragraph 6:
    http://www.icann.org/general/bylaws.htm#X

    "The GNSO Council shall make selections to fill Seats 13 and 14 on the
    ICANN Board by written ballot or by action at a meeting; any such
    selection must have affirmative votes comprising a majority of the votes
    of all the members of the GNSO Council. Notification of the GNSO
    Council's selections shall be given by the GNSO Chair in writing to the
    ICANN Secretary, consistent with Article VI, Sections 8(4) and 12(1)."

    The appointment is for three years.   

    Council members should ensure that the candidate meets the selection
    criteria for a director, and has support from the GNSO community.

    In terms of process, we can either use an email vote (to be ratified by
    a subsequent Council meeting) or we simply hold a vote during a Council
    meeting.   While we could hold a vote in the meeting on 17 March, some
    Council members may feel they need time to interview the candidate and
    discuss the candidate with members of the GNSO community prior to making
    a decision.


    > What happens if the sole candidate does not get a majority of 
    > the votes?

    There are two options:
    (1) we re-open the nomination period, and make an effort to seek
    candidates for the Board.

    (2) the sole candidate addresses any concerns that some Council members
    may have had, and the vote is re-held.

    The situation is really no different to that if you have only one
    current candidate for a job.  If that candidate does not pass a job
    interview, reference check etc, an organisation would seek more
    candidates.

    Regards,
    Bruce Tonkin