This is a very interesting and helpful anecdote which goes a long way towards helping me to decide what to do.

Vote my conscience, and ameliorate my feelings of guilt for the possible effects by being honest and fair.

He was very good at making sure the "talkers" didn't dominate the class and that those who avoided participating were included. The material he used was obviously aimed at making the subject relevant and interesting to the students.

He usually teaches literacy, and I suspect that he's in the habit of "low-balling" his classes.

Icarus