I just found this post thanks to @bitcoiner. I completely agree that the community needs to be informed about their witnesses and candidates before placing a vote. I've been searching for their statement of intent, but I also look to see how engaged they are in the community. The 3rd thing I look for is how they curate and if they have an active blog. This is not to say I would withhold my vote if they don't visit my pages (I'm not that shallow) - but I do want to see that they practice what they preach. :)