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Chuck
“The War Hero” Swanick
 Few
local politicians have mastered the art of political grandstanding like the
pride of Kenmore, Charles “Chuck” Swanick. As a Democratic Chair of the Erie
County Legislature, Swanick could be fierce in pushing for unanimous support
for Gorski initiatives. When the Legislature failed to agree on a redistricting
plan and Federal Court Judge John T. Elfvin was forced to play the role of Solomon,
Swanick was still out front, completely hoarse from his campaign to get the
best possible outcome for the Democrats.
Then the political
winds began to shift. The entire country, including Swanick's district, seemed
to align with the Bush Administration's disastrous policies. Like a prisoner
on death row, Swanick experienced a conversion of religious intensity. He switched
parties, made a pact with Joel Giambra and was able to regain his former position
in the Legislature.
As war with Iraq
loomed, the issue of Swanick's National Guard service was front and center in
the County's business. What would happen if he was called up? Where would the
County be without him? Swanick seemed to embody the spirit of Kenmore's numerous
fallen heroes of World War I.
In terms of political
drama, Swanick was always a compelling protagonist, so it comes as no surprise
that he kept everyone in suspense about his vote on the recent proposed sales
tax increase. Even as Governor Pataki was busy hand-picking political cronies
for the County Control Board, Chuck “the War Hero” Swanick was on the front
lines fighting for more balanced cuts in exchange for his vote.
Politics is, of
course, based on self-interest, but the secret to survival may be the ability
to wed that interest to the community's need to experience a dramatic catharsis.
After announcing that he would not seek another term in the Legislature, Swanick
made himself the center of attention in one of the Legislature's last independent
acts of fiscal responsibility.
Now, the latest
word is that Mr. Swanick's hat is destined to be thrown in the ring for a position
in Albany, where he will be called upon to display the same sort of fierce loyalty
and public performance he brought to the Erie County Legislature. And to that
we say: Encore! Encore!
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