Well, what I was envisioning was not a closed vote (as with the arbcom elections) but rather a long and friendly training process, where users are intergrated into the community in a series of steps, each based on some positive act the user was involved in. For example mediating a dispute, revertng a certain amount of vandalism, welcoming newcomers, cleaning up articles, writing stubs, and being part of getting an article featured, for example.
In summary, I'd like to see adminship be based on a series of successes and training, rather than what can often amount to a rather rough popularity contest. Also, we (as a community) simply need to integrate users better, and be kinder and more helpful in general.
Jack (Sam Spade)