Email Blasts

ELECTION ROUND EMAILS.

CAPTAIN WESLEY (WES) SMITH

for ORD Chair

 

Continued Experience, Transparency, Advocacy, and

Pilot First Representation.

 

Cast your VOTE: https://apa.sequent.vote

 

All eligible ORD voters will receive an email from “no-reply@sequent.vote” with a PIN unique to you. There will be two separate PINs emailed, one for the ORD election and one for the National Officer Election. (Given you do not normally get email from Sequent, be sure to check your spam folder.) This PIN will be mailed to your address on record with APA. Detailed information from APA about voting will be sent by the Secretary Treasurer prior to the election round. If you did not receive or misplace your voting PIN, do not receive a mail ballot, and/or are experiencing difficulties casting your ballot, please call the Voting Support Call Center at 1-888-454-3230.

 

You may direct any additional questions about the election to APA’s Election Coordinator, Kathy Lazenby, at 817-302-2175 or at elections@alliedpilots.org between 0800 and 1600 Central. Or you may call me anytime for assistance. 

 

Fellow Chicago Pilots,

As your Domicile Chair over the past 22 months, I’ve worked tirelessly alongside Paul Meyers and many of you here in Chicago to improve our lives and make a tangible difference. After all, most of the work we do as your reps happens locally, in our Domicile, and in direct conversations with you. It’s about making sure your voice is heard, and your needs are met. 

I believe that the only way to truly be effective is to listen. That’s why I’ve always made it a priority to stay connected with you through meetings, family awareness events, phone calls, texts, and polling. By being present at these gatherings and actively engaging with you in every way I can, I make sure I’m always in tune with your concerns and priorities.

Over my time serving as your Chair, Paul and I have accomplished a lot together. Here are just a few of the things we’ve achieved:

These accomplishments are the result of our collective efforts, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together. But there’s still more work to do, and I’m committed to continuing to serve you with the same dedication and experience.

As I seek reelection, I am committed to the core principles that have guided my leadership:

With your support, we can continue to build on our accomplishments and make even greater strides together. I am fully committed to continuing to work alongside you, ensuring that the future we create is stronger, fairer, and more sustainable for all of us. 

For more information about me, Wes and Paul Endorsements, and to stay updated on the campaign, please visit www.wes4ord.com.  Feel free to call, email or text as well. 

Thank you for your trust and continued support. Let’s keep making things better—together.  Please join me in voting “YES for WES” and “ALL for PAUL”.

Respectfully and in solidarity,


Wesley (Wes) Smith
 773-495-6538

Wes4ord@gmail.com

www.wes4ord.com





CAPTAIN WESLEY (WES) SMITH

for ORD Chair

 

Continued Experience, Transparency, Advocacy, and

Pilot First Representation.

 

Cast your VOTE: https://apa.sequent.vote

 

All eligible ORD voters will receive an email from “no-reply@sequent.vote” with a PIN unique to you. There will be two separate PINs emailed, one for the ORD election and one for the National Officer Election. (Given you do not normally get email from Sequent, be sure to check your spam folder.) This PIN will be mailed to your address on record with APA. Detailed information from APA about voting will be sent by the Secretary Treasurer prior to the election round. If you did not receive or misplace your voting PIN, do not receive a mail ballot, and/or are experiencing difficulties casting your ballot, please call the Voting Support Call Center at 1-888-454-3230.

 

Fellow Chicago Pilots,

I’m asking for your continued support in representing you as ORD Chair. Available anytime at wes4ord@gmail.com or 773-495-6538.  Check out Wes and Paul’s proven track record by pilots who endorse us at www.wes4ord.com/endorsements.

 

Experience matters…

 

After speaking with many of you, it’s become clear that prior union experience is crucial. As domicile representatives, the majority of our time is spent assisting ORD pilots, which is by far my favorite part of the position. Advocating for pilots through LTD claims, personal matters, disciplinary hearings, and contract enforcement are just a few of the rewarding aspects of this role. Taking care of each other is at the heart of unionism, and it requires significant time, attention to detail, dedication, and knowledge. I’ve spent countless years devoted to being an honest, hardworking, and committed union volunteer with both APA and ALPA.

 

Union experience is something our opponents lack on their resumes. In fact, I’ve noticed that my competitor lists substantial management experience. To be clear, this is a union election to elect a true union representative, not a management pilot position. Paul and I have been tested in critical decision-making for our pilot group, and that experience will be invaluable as we enter our next round of negotiations. All the time spent with my mentors and peers has taught me to lead with compassion and always prioritize advocating for pilots’ interests above all.

 

A few points on the contract…

 

The previous board shaped the priorities based on polling. When Paul and I were elected, we sat down at the table with nearly every section of the contract already closed, leaving no room for reopening—this is how negotiations typically work. As we move forward into the next contract cycle, we can apply the lessons learned from mistakes of the past. By combining our experiences with input from polling, we can help set the priorities for the upcoming contract. Ultimately, it is the polling of the pilots that determines our negotiating priorities, not a secret decision by the Board of Directors.

 

What ORD pilots currently have…

 

Honest, trustworthy, transparent, and  experienced representation that has actively participated in making the hard decisions on your behalf. You also currently have two easily accessible domicile representatives who address your needs in a timely manner. 

 

The “Fresh” look claim…

 

Truth be told, Paul and I are the "fresh" perspective that our opponents are referring to. We have transformed our domicile into an open, communicative environment by actively soliciting feedback, all while building upon, improving, and respecting the successes of our predecessors. We believe in strengthening our domicile, not tearing it down. It's easy for contenders to throw darts at a wall and hope something sticks, but until you’re tested in the seat and faced with making tough decisions as an elected official, those are just empty promises.

 

Accusations of skipping meetings…

 

Baseless attacks on Paul and me regarding meeting attendance are simply false and, frankly, distasteful. We have not missed meetings unless they were pre-planned family vacations or unavoidable training events. Paul has done an excellent job explaining our philosophy: family always comes first. Without our families, we have nothing.

 

A word on Polling…

As the President of ALPA, Jason Ambrosi, said when presenting to the APA Board in the winter BOD meeting: 

“I’m a proponent of polling. Every failed TA is always as a result of not knowing what your membership actually wanted and what their expectations were. Why? Because you didn't ask, nobody was asking the question.”

“I polled every single month for 2 ½ years going into our end game until I knew exactly what the expectation was. I think you guys poll a lot too. It’s an essential piece in making sure that it’s not just those of us in the room who “think” we know exactly what the pilots want. We want to hear from the actual pilots and what they want.”

And simply put, scientific polling data on ALPA was stale, Paul and I intend on reviewing the polling later this month and acting accordingly based on the results of the ORD domicile. 

And finally, a word on Transparency…

 

What you see is what you get. We write our own blasts, run our own campaign, and have a proven track record with the ORD pilots. As your Chair, alongside my Vice Chair, we have worked hard to gain the experience needed to be effective, starting with volunteerism and selflessly serving this pilot group. My loyalty is to the pilots of ORD—nothing else. After all, the pilots are the foundation of any union.

 

Lastly, I am not loyal to any outside influential group that appears to be backing our opponents' campaign. Chicago pilots speak for Paul and me, and we simply represent you! Over the past two years, we’ve changed the format of our domicile meetings to give our membership the opportunity to speak and present resolutions, while also allowing time for educational segments from Subject Matter Experts.

With your support, we can continue to build on our accomplishments and make even greater strides together. I am fully committed to continuing to work alongside you, ensuring that the future we create is stronger, fairer, and more sustainable for all of us. 

For more information about me, Wes and Paul Endorsements, and to stay updated on the campaign, please visit www.wes4ord.com.  Feel free to call, email or text as well. 

Thank you for your trust and continued support. Let’s keep making things better—together.  Please join me in voting “YES for WES” and “ALL for PAUL”.

Respectfully and in solidarity,


Wesley (Wes) Smith
 773-495-6538

Wes4ord@gmail.com

www.wes4ord.com


VOTE CAPTAIN WESLEY (WES) SMITH

for ORD Chair

 

Continued Experience, Transparency, Advocacy, and

Pilot First Representation.

Cast your VOTE: https://apa.sequent.vote

 

All eligible ORD voters have received an email from “no-reply@sequent.vote” with a PIN unique to you. There will be two separate PINs emailed, one for the ORD election and one for the National Officer Election. (Given you do not normally get email from Sequent, be sure to check your spam folder.) This PIN was also mailed to your address on record with APA. If you did not receive or misplace your voting PIN, do not receive a mail ballot, and/or are experiencing difficulties casting your ballot, please call the Voting Support Call Center at 1-888-454-3230.

Fellow Chicago Pilots,

As the end of voting approaches, I respectfully ask for your vote: “Yes for Wes” and “All for Paul.” Over the past two years, Paul and I have prioritized pilot advocacy and compassion, delivering the best possible outcomes for our pilots and their families. But this is only the beginning, and we need your continued support to make ORD the best base in the system.

Since day one, our top priorities have been:

Your feedback has been invaluable by helping us improve essential areas like electronic voting and pilot-facing applications, both of which enhance our quality of life. Making progress as an elected rep is challenging. It requires not only the knowledge gained through volunteerism but also trust and strong working relationships to build Board consensus. Paul and I have the experience needed and know how to put it into action.

Our key accomplishments include:

We’ve achieved a lot, but there’s more to do. With your support, we’ll continue improving life for pilots in Chicago. We’ve made tough decisions on your behalf and have the experience to keep driving results.

Looking ahead, our focus is on executing our strategic plan to secure early openers for our next contract. Paul and I are committed to negotiating an industry-leading contract, and we have the knowledge and experience to put us in the best position for success. We won’t and haven’t made empty promises — we know how the process works and will work tirelessly to secure what we deserve.

Thank you for your continued trust and support. Please vote “Yes for Wes” and “All for Paul.” For more information or to view our endorsements, visit www.wes4ord.com/endorsements.

Together, we can continue to make positive progress. Last day to vote is March 30th, 2025. 

Respectfully,


Wesley (Wes) Smith
773-495-6538
wes4ord@gmail.com
www.wes4ord.com

 


VOTE CAPTAIN WESLEY (WES) SMITH

for ORD Chair &

PAUL MEYERS for ORD Vice Chair

 

Continued Experience, Transparency, Advocacy, and

Pilot First Representation.


Cast your VOTE: https://apa.sequent.vote

 

Fellow Chicago Pilots,


Today is the last day to vote. I humbly ask for your support for Wes Smith and Paul Meyers. Over the past two years, we’ve earned your trust through steady, fact-based leadership. Representing a pilot domicile requires experience, grit, and determination—qualities we have to get the job done.


Whether you're a narrowbody, widebody, junior, or senior pilot, Paul and Wes have your back. Our priority is Pilot First representation, and our proven results are reflected by the pilots we represent in Chicago. To close out this campaign, I’d like to share a few thoughts from our peers about our leadership.


"I would like to give my full and complete endorsement to Wes and Paul.  In my many years here at AA I have not seen many if any base reps that have worked so hard on behalf of their pilots.  When the time comes when you need that extra bit of support from the union when dealing with any kind of issue Wes and Paul will be there just like they were for me!   Wes and Paul will look after all our interests junior or senior.  Don't fall for the “I will get us this, I will get us that” talk from the other candidate's, of course we all want improvements, and I believe they do too, but Wes and Paul are actually in there getting the job done, it would be a big mistake to remove them now, they are just getting started.  I strongly urge you to cast your vote for Wes and Paul, they are looking out for you.  Thank you to all for stepping up to serve your fellow pilots."

CA Kurt Wien ORD 787 Captain

 

"I proudly support the re-election of Wes and Paul in ORD. Chicago pilots are among the loudest and proudest in the system, though we are not the biggest group we are always heard. I know this because I represented a good portion of our ORD based pilots in a previous life. Our voices make all the difference and Wes and Paul have proven they know how to translate our voices to the BOD, by listening to us!! (Just give them a call If you don’t believe me Wes and Paul return every call, every text message, and every email in a timely fashion which is a sign of a rep who cares about the constituents). Furthermore, BOD meeting minutes and their BOD voting history show they are not scared to stand up and go against the grain when it’s needed. Wes and Paul now being experienced union representatives will be an even louder voice for ORD going into a critical phase of this next term. Wes and Paul have my votes, and I hope you offer them the same."


FO Josh Winowiecki ORD 737 FO

 

"A good leader begins with someone who not only listens but understands and genuinely cares what is being said. Wes and Paul have continuously demonstrated that we cannot take such leaders for granted. We are fortunate to be represented by two people who make themselves readily available, rise to the occasion, and are willing to make difficult decisions in the face of adversity. It is tirelessly orated that we need to expect more out of our leaders and hold those in power accountable. Wes and Paul have proven that change is not always necessary nor the correct approach. They make decisions and stand up for each and every one of us, even when it is not easy or politically favorable. This is what it means to be a leader. They stand in the way and take the blame all while shielding the rest of us. We don’t need an administrative change—we need more leaders like Wes and Paul. They make me proud to stand in solidarity as a proud union Pilot with each and every one of you. I hope as years pass, we have more Pilot’s willing to make the selfless decision to stand up for us and in doing so remember that leadership is synonymous with trust. It is not given but rather earned and with that my vote will confidently be cast for Wes Smith and Paul Meyers."

Nicholas Fischer ORD 737 First Officer

 

“I enthusiastically endorse Wes and Paul for re-election as our local union representatives. Over their time as volunteers, they have consistently demonstrated their unwavering commitment to the Chicago pilots by being highly attentive to our concerns and needs at the local level. Wes and Paul are approachable, and they excel at listening carefully to all perspectives, ensuring that every voice is heard. One of their strongest qualities is their ability to engage in civil and productive discussions, fostering an environment where all members feel respected and valued. This skill is essential in representing us effectively and ensuring our interests are always front and center. Their extensive experience and deep understanding of union processes have proven invaluable in their roles, particularly when it comes to active participation within the Board of Directors. Wes and Paul have shown time and time again that they know how to  navigate the complexities of decision-making and influence positive change for the benefit of all Chicago pilots.Re-electing Wes and Paul ensures continued strong, thoughtful, and dedicated representation. They have the experience, expertise, and commitment to serve us well, and I am confident they will continue to advocate for our collective interests with integrity and professionalism.”

Zeke Vazquez ORD 737 Captain 

 

Let’s continue making Chicago the best domicile in the network – together! Vote “Yes for  Wes” and “All for Paul.”

Respectfully,

Wesley (Wes) Smith
773-495-6538
wes4ord@gmail.com
www.wes4ord.com