Political Patronage - Rensselaer County 

By CAROL DeMARE, Times Union Staff writer
First published: Sunday, December 30, 2001 

Former Rensselaer County Executive Henry Zwack was cleared of perjury charges after a September trial that focused on a no-show job scandal. Zwack was the prime target of a long grand jury probe that wrapped up in 2001. A jury acquitted the former head of Rensselaer County government of charges that he lied under oath to cover up that a 911 education coordinator was paid by the county in 1996 while actually working in Florida. Zwack, a Republican, resigned in May and took a job with a lobbying law firm. He and others still face felony and misdemeanor counts in connection with trying to rig a Civil Service test in exchange for votes. That case could go to trial in early 2002.

source:  Albany Times Union