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Mark Walczyk

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Mark Walczyk
Member of the New York State Senate
from the 49th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2023
Preceded byPatty Ritchie (redistricting)
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 116th district
In office
January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2022
Preceded byAddie Jenne
Succeeded byScott Gray
Member of the Watertown City Council
In office
January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2018
Succeeded byJesse Roshia
Personal details
Born (1985-07-03) July 3, 1985 (age 39)
Brewerton, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Jessica
​
(m. 2019)​
Residence(s)Watertown, New York, U.S.
EducationUniversity at Albany, SUNY (BS)
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website
Campaign website

Mark C. Walczyk (/ˈwɑːlsɪk/; born July 3, 1985) is an American politician and US Army Reserve Engineer Officer from the state of New York. A Republican, Walczyk represents the 49th district of the New York State Senate. Walczyk won the seat in 2022, after serving in the New York State Assembly.[1][2]

Early life

[edit]

Born in Syracuse, NY, to Robert S. Walczyk, Jr. and Carolyn A. Walczyk (Foland), Walczyk is a graduate of the State University of New York, Albany. At age 26, Walczyk joined the US Army Reserve. He currently serves as team leader in the 791st Forward Engineer Support Team (FEST).

Political career

[edit]

In 2007, while attending SUNY Albany Walczyk began his political career by interning in the NYS Senate through Student Programs.

In 2010, Walczyk worked on State Senator Patty Ritchie’s campaign and worked as her Legislative Director in the State's Capitol thereafter. In 2013, he was appointed as Ritchie's district director.

In 2015, Walczyk successfully ran for the Watertown City Council in a four-way race. He served on the council for three years before being elected to the Assembly.[3][4][5][6]

Walczyk announced in May 2018 that he would challenge incumbent Democratic Assemblywoman Addie Jenne, who had represented the Assembly's 116th district for ten years.[7] That November, Walczyk defeated Jenne with 53% of the vote.[8][9]

In the Assembly, Walczyk served as the ranking Republican on the Higher Education Committee and member of the following committees: Social Services, Cities, Energy, and Transportation. In January, 2020, Walczyk was appointed to the Legislative Commission on Rural Resources.[10] Walczyk considers himself an environmentalist and earned a 56% rating from the NY League of Conservation Voters.[11]

In 2020, Walczyk garnered more than 60% of the vote, defeating his opponent Alex Hammond.[12]

In February 2022, Walczyk announced that he would be running for the newly drawn 49th State Senate District following the announcement of Patty Ritchie's retirement.[13] After securing the Republican nomination, Walczyk won the general election unopposed.[14]

Walczyk serves as the Ranking member of the Senate's Elections Committee and the Cultural Affairs, Tourism and Parks and Recreation Committee.[15] He also sits on the Senate Agriculture, Energy, Internet and Technology Committee and the Rural Resources Commission.[15]

Views

[edit]

Since his inauguration, Senator Walczyk has been vocal on many issues. On energy policy, he has called on Governor Kathy Hochul to pause the installation of new solar farms in the state due to disasters in his district.[16] He has also questioned progressive policies such as the "Build Public Renewables Act", arguing that it amounts to a state takeover of the energy sector and will harm all New Yorkers.[17]

Mark Walczyk has also worked to strengthen tourism and the local agriculture industry in parts of his district. In 2021, Hochul signed a piece of legislation sponsored by Walczyk that added two wineries in Jefferson County to the Thousand Islands-Seaway Wine Trail.[18]

Walczyk has also been a staunch supporter of more transparent government. He has introduced legislation that would increase transparency in the state's budget process, along with mandating that the state complete an after action review (AAR) of its performance during the COVID-19 pandemic.[19][20] Lastly, he has called out the State Education Department for releasing guidance that would diminish the role of parents in their children's educational and personal lives.[21]

Walczyk announced his deployment to Kuwait for nine months starting late January 2024, missing the bulk of the year's legislative session[22] His office stated that he would not be resigning and that staff will continue handling constituent services in his absence.[23]

During his absence during session, seven of Senator Walczyk's bills passed both houses. These ranged from technical changes to existing law,[24] authorizing a land transfer for an economic development initiative.[25] The office has also advocated for increased cellular coverage in the Adirondack Park, citing communication difficulties for vacationers and Park residents alike.[26]

Military service

[edit]

In 2012, Walczyk was recruited to serve as an Engineer Officer in the Army Reserve[citation needed]. In January 2013, he attended Basic Combat Training and Officer Candidates School at Ft. Benning, GA. In addition, Second Lieutenant Walczyk stayed for Airborne School and earned his jump wings[citation needed].

In August 2013, he attended the Air Assault course at Fort Drum, NY's Light Fighter School and earned his Air Assault Badge along with high accolades for the fastest 12-mile ruck time in his class[citation needed].

Second Lieutenant Walczyk was assigned the role of Executive Officer of the 479th Engineer Battalions’ Forward Support Company.

In 2015, he attended Basic Officer Leadership Course in Fort Leonard Wood, Sapper Leader Course, and was reassigned as a Platoon Leader in the 366th Engineer Company, Canton, NY, and promoted to First Lieutenant.

In July 2016, First Lieutenant Walczyk was ordered to take command of the 366th Engineer Company. He served and led though WAREX (Ft. McCoy) that year, JRTC (Ft. Polk) in 2017, and NTC (Ft. Irwin) in 2018.

Walczyk was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2019. In 2020, Captain Walczyk was mobilized to support the Army Corps of Engineers COVID-19 mission in the District of Columbia. He currently serves as team leader to the 791st Forward Engineer Support Team.

Walczyk announced that he would be deployed to Kuwait for nine months starting January 2024, thus missing the bulk of the year's legislative session.[22]

Personal life

[edit]

Walczyk lives in Watertown with his wife, Jessica.[27] Together, they have two sons, Atticus, who is three years old, and Byron, who just turned one.

A lifetime angler, Walczyk enjoys fishing in his free time as well as hiking, camping, and spending time with family on the water. He is a member of the Watertown Noontime Rotary Club, Lowville Elks Lodge, Jefferson County Animal Cruelty Task Force, American Legion Post 61, Italian American Civic Association, Friends of the MAC Nature Center, and Friends of Thompson Park. He is also a parishioner of the New Life Christian Church in Watertown.[28]

Ironman

[edit]

Walczyk got involved in tri-sport at a young age, participating in Henderson Harbor Triathlon at age 13. To date, he's competed in several local triathlons and completed four full Ironman distance races:

  • 2007 Ford Ironman Florida: 13:07:25[29]
  • 2010 Ford Ironman Lake Placid: 12:50:13[30]
  • 2011 Ford Ironman Cozumel: 11:42:32[31]
  • 2017 Ironman Maryland: 12:19:48[32]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Straub, Brendan (2 January 2023). "Mark Walczyk sworn in as a New York state senator". www.wwnytv.com. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  2. ^ "Unopposed Mark Walczyk wins 49th District State Senate seat". WSYR. 2022-11-09. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  3. ^ "Mark Walczyk Wins 116th Assembly District". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  4. ^ WRITER, CRAIG FOX TIMES STAFF (10 July 2015). "Seven vying for seats on City Council". NNY360. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  5. ^ BOOKER, TED (4 November 2015). "Walczyk wins, Horbacz leads". NNY360. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  6. ^ FOX, CRAIG (6 June 2017). "Sparks fly before city budget is adopted". NNY360. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  7. ^ David Sommerstein (May 11, 2018). "Watertown councilman launches challenge for Addie Jenne's Assembly seat". North Country Public Radio. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  8. ^ Craig Fox (November 8, 2018). "Walczyk unseats Jenne". NNY 360. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  9. ^ "Walczyk unseats Jenne in race for 116th state Assembly District; opposes universal healthcare, SAFE Act | NorthCountryNow". northcountrynow.com. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  10. ^ "New York State Assembly | Mark Walczyk". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  11. ^ "NYLCV Releases 2019 State Environmental Scorecard". New York League of Conservation Voters. 2019-08-27. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  12. ^ "Mark Walczyk". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  13. ^ Gault, Alex (7 March 2022). "Walczyk wants to bring back balanced government in state Senate run". www.nny360.com. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  14. ^ "Unopposed Mark Walczyk wins 49th District State Senate seat". RochesterFirst. 2022-11-09. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  15. ^ a b "About Mark Walczyk". NYSenate.gov. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  16. ^ "North Country senator calls for changes in solar farm safety guidelines". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  17. ^ Senator Mark Walczyk Questions Senator Parker Regarding New York State Build Public Renewables Act, 6 March 2023, retrieved 2023-08-07
  18. ^ Gault, Alex (26 July 2021). "White Caps, The Cape wineries added to Seaway Wine Trail". www.nny360.com. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  19. ^ "Senator Walczyk Stands With Republican Legislators To Demand Transparency In Budget Process". NYSenate.gov. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  20. ^ "2023-S5718". NYSenate.gov. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  21. ^ GAULTagault@wdt.net, ALEX (2023-06-22). "Walczyk says he's appalled by new LGBTQ+ guidance from state education department; queer advocate accuses him of fearmongering". NNY360. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  22. ^ a b Williams, Tim (December 8, 2023). "North Country state senator deploying to Kuwait". Spectrum News 1. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  23. ^ Craig, Gwendolyn (December 23, 2023). "Adirondack senator to deploy to Kuwait". Adirondack Explorer. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  24. ^ "NY State Senate Bill 2023-S8045". www.nysenate.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  25. ^ "NY State Senate Bill 2023-S9160". www.nysenate.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  26. ^ "Stec pushes for more cell phone service in ADK Park". suncommunitynews.com. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  27. ^ Rutherford, Diane (18 November 2019). "Walczyks buy downtown Watertown building". wwnytv.com. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  28. ^ "New York State Assembly | Mark Walczyk". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  29. ^ "2007 FORD IRONMAN FLORIDA". www.tri226.de. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  30. ^ "ARE Results Viewer: Ford Ironman Lake Placid held July 25, 2010". www.albanyrunningexchange.org. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  31. ^ "Ironman Cozumel de Noviembre del 2011-Cozumel, México 27 de Noviembre de 2011 Resultados oficiales - PDF Free Download". docplayer.es. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  32. ^ "Tri.☕". tri.cafe. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
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