SillyString:
I have some questions!
As you say, you have served as Speaker longer than any other TNPer. What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the role, and where do you think you have fallen short?
Barring some major scandal which caused your criminal conviction or recall from office, under what circumstances do you see yourself declining to run for an additional term? Relatedly, how prepared do you feel your deputies are to eventually succeed you?
Do you plan to keep the same deputies for next term, or bring in fresh meat faces?
My greatest accomplishment as Speaker, I think, has been in terms of training and helping those that have been Deputy Speakers during my time in office and getting them to the point where they could replace me or move on to another office with fair chances of success
One thing I have consistently fallen short in relation to is the RA Digest, it first fell out of publication when I was Speaker and over these last few terms I can't claim to have been regularly issuing it.
On the issuing of not standing again, while I do really enjoy the Speaker's Office, I have to be honest and say that I had expected to take a break from it this term. Had someone experienced and capable ran then I would probably have not stood (I had expected such a someone in the form of Quak, my Deputy, to run actually). If, at the next election, such a someone stands then I think I will not run.
The previous paragraph gives some hint as to my answer on the preparedness of my Deputies. I think that Quak could probably do so now, he's competent and has performed most of the duties of the Speaker, I think that the only regular duty he has not performed is altering the legal documents. Mister Masses, as I mentioned in the OP, has had reduced activity as of late which, coupled with relatively little business in the Assembly over the last while, has meant that he has not handled the procedural side of the Speaker's role, though he does have experience in the administrative side of things; I think that he could be prepared to succeed me, however, it will taken longer than I would have liked to get him prepared to do so due to the difficulties in terms of activity.
If my Deputies wish to stay on then it is my plan to retain them, however, I do plan on taking on a third Deputy, at least until Mister Masses' activity picks up again and probably beyond that point. Whether that Deputy is someone new to the Office or otherwise will depend on those that put themselves forward.
