(Buffalo, NY, May 4, 2005) - - You're seeing this story first right here! He missed four meetings in a row, and News 4's Mylous Hairston has learned that Erie County lawmaker Chuck Swanick will soon hop a train and return to his old career as a railroad engineer.
After 25 years in County Hall, Chuck Swanick may be riding the rails out of the Erie County legislature.
News 4 has confirmed the Republican lawmaker has a job lined up with CSX.
James Louis, chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Local 421, said, "Chuck Swanick has re-applied to come back to work as a locomotive engineer."
Swanick has been on a leave of absence from CSX since he was first elected to the legislature in 1980.
Sources tell me his decision to return to the rail is tied to Erie County's budget crisis and poor polling numbers for re-election.
His training locally is set to start within the next two weeks at a Kenmore railyard.