| Mark Walczyk | |
| Party: | Republican |
| Birth Date: | 3 July 1985 |
| Birth Place: | Brewerton, New York, U.S. |
| Education: | University at Albany, SUNY (BS) |
| Residence: | Watertown, New York, U.S. |
| Website: | |
| State Assembly3: | New York |
| District3: | 116th |
| Term Start3: | January 1, 2019 |
| Term End3: | December 31, 2022 |
| Predecessor3: | Addie Jenne |
| Successor3: | Scott Gray |
| Office4: | Member of the Watertown City Council |
| Term Start4: | January 1, 2016 |
| Term End4: | December 31, 2018 |
| State Senate2: | New York State |
| District2: | 49th |
| Termstart2: | January 1, 2023 |
| Predecessor2: | Patty Ritchie (redistricting) |
| Successor4: | Jesse Roshia |
| Signature: | Mark Walczyk Signature.png |
Mark C. Walczyk (; 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]
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).
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]
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.
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.[17]
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.[18] [19] 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.[20]
Walczyk announced his deployment to Kuwait for nine months starting late January 2024, missing the bulk of the year's legislative session[21] His office stated that he would not be resigning and that staff will continue handling constituent services in his absence.[22]
During his absence during session, seven of Senator Walczyk's bills passed both houses. These ranged from technical changes to existing law,[23] authorizing a land transfer for an economic development initiative.[24] The office has also advocated for increased cellular coverage in the Adirondack Park, citing communication difficulties for vacationers and Park residents alike.[25]
In 2012, Walczyk was recruited to serve as an Engineer Officer in the Army Reserve. 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.
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.
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.
Walczyk lives in Watertown with his wife, Jessica.[26] 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.[27]
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: