Just to comment about the "hidden" submissions, they haven't been that well protected - there has been a link in the sitenotice area on watchlists at en.wikipedia since the process was opened to submissions. Looks like its been taken down yesterday or today, but I don't think you can hide something by advertising it on the watchlist of the largest project's participants!
To Florence's original point - I haven't even bothered to look at the petition, but I think folks interested in participating will get involved with the election when it appears the time to do so has come ;-) I hadn't seen it noted, but does the lack of a submission from you mean that you have decided not to stand for re-election?
Nathan