Yes I agree, there was a lot of drivel with no substance in what you posted there.

I know Heide Oberndorf. She is self motivated and is no one's "patsy" (she's a dynamo and anyone who actually knows her would laugh out loud at that nonsense). As I understand it she became disgusted with what she saw in Herndon during the fight to get us a contract at United and decided change is needed. It's HER campaign and she'll take whatever questions you send her way. TRY IT instead of posting drivel.

John Barton, on the other hand, is not an "alleged" ALPA political strategist, he's a bone fide ALPA political strategist and has been an elected local Rep. for close to a decade (I've lost track, something like that is close because I did it for seven years and he's done it for longer than me). He started doing ALPA work as the Council 33 Legislative Chairman and is currently on the Council 57 Legislative Committee with his primary work over the last year being the Secondary Barrier project working with Ellen Saracini under Heide Oberndorf's eye (think "The Saracini Aviation Safety Act"). Again, instead of posting drivel just ask the man: [email protected]

Unfortunately UAL MEC Chairman Jay Heppner, who is also running for ALPA President, stood down Heide (and thusly John who was working that project under her direction), cut them off from all ALPA funding and support, and left Ellen to find new people to work with in ALPA. Hey, I'm sure there's no conflict of interest in Jay cutting Heide off from ALPA work and all meetings with people out in the system just as the campaigning heats up! At any rate, as we've just learned the bills are probably dead for this year. Gee thanks Jay, I hope it helps your campaign vs. Heide's. (Sarcasm alert.)

John has NEVER "actively tried to get rid of ALPA" at United anymore than any serving elected ALPA officer has. What he has done is been a vocal critic of ALPA's buffoonery when appropriate, and I should think that this would be well received by most pilots (and in fact I think it IS well received by most pilots) instead of listed as some sort of threat as you have. What the hell are you? An ALPA "patsy"?

For those who are looking for facts vs. drivel: John Barton ran his own PAC (as anyone can do) called "Pilots Make Change" for several years. It was meant to be a PAC dedicated purely to Major Airline pilot issues, and that is what it did while it ran. Unfortunately, an anti-ALPA group that was trying to start a new union took on the name of "Pilots For Change". This name confusion BS is the main source of the "John Barton is against ALPA" routine that you hear from strident ALPA supporters, but it's also a lie that's been conveniently kicked down the road and propped up by John's political detractors at United and ALPA National. It's ridiculous but understandable. After all, when you've done ALPA work for as long as John and I have you wind up with no shortage of folks who would not shed a tear if you crashed your Pitts...while on fire...

I don't get here often as I've sworn off pilot forums for over a decade now, but if I see any questions I can answer I will since this is a no BS campaign that actually matters. We deserve better than ALPA has done for the 20+ years I've been watching it, and more of the same from the candidates who don't want to rock the boat sure doesn't strike me as a recipe for success.

Oly