ChatGPT coming in hot:
The candidates for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) president and executive vice president in the 2024 election include the team of Nick Daniels and Jamaal Haltom, and Mick Devine, who is running for executive vice president.
### Nick Daniels and Jamaal Haltom
**Nick Daniels**, currently the Southwest Regional Vice President (RVP), and **Jamaal Haltom**, an air traffic controller at LAS Tower, are running together for president and executive vice president, respectively. Their platform focuses on inspiring unity and empowering members. They aim to address key issues such as pay, contract negotiations, mental health, and morale, while advocating for the rights of NATCA members [oai_citation:1,Candidates for NATCA President and Executive Vice President I Team Daniels-Haltom - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lTTSk9NF8Q#:~:text=URL%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww,100) [oai_citation:2,Daniels Haltom 2024 - Home](https://teamndjh.com/).
**Pros**:
- **Experience**: Both candidates have extensive experience within NATCA, with Daniels serving as RVP.
- **Member-focused**: Their platform emphasizes direct engagement with members, visiting facilities, and addressing frontline concerns.
- **Holistic approach**: They focus on a wide range of issues affecting NATCA members, from pay and negotiations to mental health and morale.
**Cons**:
- **New Leadership Transition**: Transitioning to new leadership might bring uncertainties regarding continuity of ongoing initiatives.
- **Broad Focus**: Their wide-ranging platform might face challenges in prioritizing and effectively addressing all issues.
### Mick Devine
**Mick Devine** is the New England Regional Vice President and a candidate for executive vice president. Devine's campaign focuses on a fact-based, idea-driven approach, emphasizing the return of pay, benefits, and working conditions as top NATCA priorities. He advocates for a bottom-up, membership-driven union [oai_citation:3,Mick Devine for NATCA Executive Vice President - Devine for NATCA Executive Vice President 2024](https://devine2024.org/) [oai_citation:4,NATCA Leadership - NATCA](https://www.natca.org/about-us/leadership/).
**Pros**:
- **Leadership Experience**: Devine has been the New England RVP since 2018 and has a history of strong leadership within the union.
- **Focus on Pay and Benefits**: His platform's emphasis on restoring pay and benefits resonates with many members' immediate concerns.
- **Military Background**: His background as a Marine brings a disciplined, mission-focused perspective to his leadership style.
**Cons**:
- **Single-issue Focus**: The strong emphasis on pay and benefits might be seen as too narrow compared to other candidates with more diverse platforms.
- **Campaign Style**: His fact-based, no-nonsense approach might not appeal to members looking for more inclusive or community-oriented leadership styles.
These candidates offer diverse visions and strategies for leading NATCA, each with unique strengths and potential challenges. Members will need to consider which approach aligns best with their priorities and the future they envision for their union.
### Candidates for NATCA President
#### Rich Santa
**Pros:**
- **Experience**: Currently serving as the NATCA President, Rich Santa has extensive leadership experience within the union, having served in various roles over two decades. This includes his tenure as the Eastern Regional Vice President and multiple facility representative positions [oai_citation:1,About Rich Santa - Santa for NATCA President 2024](https://santa2024.org/about-rich-santa/) [oai_citation:2,Re-Elect NATCA President Rich Santa - Santa for NATCA President 2024](https://santa2024.org/).
- **Initiatives**: Santa has been a strong advocate for updating staffing numbers and improving working conditions through legislation. His push for the ABACUS system aims to ensure accurate compensation for air traffic controllers [oai_citation:3,About Rich Santa - Santa for NATCA President 2024](https://santa2024.org/about-rich-santa/).
- **Education and Training**: He has prioritized reinvesting in the education of union members, exemplified by the NATCA Activism and Training Expo (ATX) [oai_citation:4,About Rich Santa - Santa for NATCA President 2024](https://santa2024.org/about-rich-santa/) [oai_citation:5,Re-Elect NATCA President Rich Santa - Santa for NATCA President 2024](https://santa2024.org/).
**Cons:**
- **Perception of Effectiveness**: Some members feel that despite his efforts, the current leadership has not sufficiently addressed critical issues like pay and working conditions, leading to frustration among the workforce [oai_citation:6,Justin Dailey and Michael Redmond are the only real options : r/atc2](https://www.reddit.com/r/atc2/comments/1d96d3b/justin_dailey_and_michael_redmond_are_the_only/).
#### Justin Dailey
**Pros:**
- **Recent Operational Experience**: As an active air traffic controller, Dailey emphasizes his hands-on experience, highlighting that he has worked in this decade, unlike some other candidates. This provides him with a current perspective on the challenges controllers face [oai_citation:7,Justin Dailey for NATCA President](https://jdatc2024.org/) [oai_citation:8,About | Justin Dailey for NATCA President](https://jdatc2024.org/about).
- **Grassroots Perspective**: Dailey positions himself as an "average controller" who understands the daily struggles and aims to reconnect the union leadership with its members' needs. His direct involvement in various local roles demonstrates his commitment to grassroots activism [oai_citation:9,Justin Dailey for NATCA President](https://jdatc2024.org/) [oai_citation:10,About | Justin Dailey for NATCA President](https://jdatc2024.org/about).
- **Diverse Background**: He has a solid educational background with a Bachelor's in Aeronautical Science and various aviation-related licenses, which complement his practical experience [oai_citation:11,About | Justin Dailey for NATCA President](https://jdatc2024.org/about).
**Cons:**
- **Limited National Leadership Experience**: Compared to other candidates, Dailey's experience within NATCA's national leadership is relatively limited, which might concern members looking for a more seasoned national representative [oai_citation:12,About | Justin Dailey for NATCA President](https://jdatc2024.org/about).
### Michael Redmond
**Pros:**
- **Experience**: Redmond has significant experience in both national and local union roles, providing a well-rounded perspective on NATCA's operations. He has also taken a break to focus on family, which some view as a strength, showing his dedication to balancing professional and personal life [oai_citation:13,Justin Dailey and Michael Redmond are the only real options : r/atc2](https://www.reddit.com/r/atc2/comments/1d96d3b/justin_dailey_and_michael_redmond_are_the_only/).
- **Commitment to Change**: His supporters believe he has the right mix of experience and fresh perspective to address current issues within the union, including working conditions and compensation [oai_citation:14,Justin Dailey and Michael Redmond are the only real options : r/atc2](https://www.reddit.com/r/atc2/comments/1d96d3b/justin_dailey_and_michael_redmond_are_the_only/).
**Cons:**
- **Competition for Similar Votes**: Redmond and some other candidates, like Mick Devine, may split the vote among members looking for change, potentially weakening their overall chances [oai_citation:15,Justin Dailey and Michael Redmond are the only real options : r/atc2](https://www.reddit.com/r/atc2/comments/1d96d3b/justin_dailey_and_michael_redmond_are_the_only/).
These candidates offer different strengths and perspectives, catering to various segments of the NATCA membership. Voters will need to weigh the importance of experience, current operational insight, and the ability to enact meaningful change when making their decision.