Mark Walczyk

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.{{Cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/watertown/news/2018/11/07/walczyk-wins-116th-assembly-district|title=Mark Walczyk Wins 116th Assembly District|website=spectrumlocalnews.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-21}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nny360.com/news/seven-vying-for-seats-on-city-council/article_7570debf-99f9-550e-87c6-ab430d49478b.html|title=Seven vying for seats on City Council|last=WRITER|first=CRAIG FOX TIMES STAFF|website=NNY360|date=10 July 2015 |language=en|access-date=2020-02-21}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nny360.com/news/walczyk-wins-horbacz-leads/article_5a343f29-7bea-5a03-a7dc-90c83f47461a.html|title=Walczyk wins, Horbacz leads|last=BOOKER|first=TED|website=NNY360|date=4 November 2015 |language=en|access-date=2020-02-21}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nny360.com/news/sparks-fly-before-city-budget-is-adopted/article_fc4557de-206f-5b1d-abe5-7d16bc74c964.html|title=Sparks fly before city budget is adopted|last=FOX|first=CRAIG|website=NNY360|date=6 June 2017 |language=en|access-date=2020-02-21}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/36193/20180511/watertown-councilman-launches-challenge-for-addie-jenne-s-assembly-seat|title=Watertown councilman launches challenge for Addie Jenne's Assembly seat|website=North Country Public Radio|author=David Sommerstein|date=May 11, 2018|access-date=February 5, 2020}} That November, Walczyk defeated Jenne with 53% of the vote.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nny360.com/news/walczyk-unseats-jenne/article_dc3bc1a7-1616-5608-a018-19189842151c.html|title= Walczyk unseats Jenne|website=NNY 360|author=Craig Fox|date=November 8, 2018|access-date=February 5, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://northcountrynow.com/news/gop-challenger-walczyk-ahead-incmbent-jenne-race-116th-state-assembly-district-0246734|title=Walczyk unseats Jenne in race for 116th state Assembly District; opposes universal healthcare, SAFE Act {{!}} NorthCountryNow|website=northcountrynow.com|date=6 November 2018 |access-date=2020-02-21}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Mark-Walczyk/comm/|title=New York State Assembly {{!}} Mark Walczyk|website=nyassembly.gov|access-date=2020-02-21}} Walczyk considers himself an environmentalist and earned a 56% rating from the NY League of Conservation Voters.{{Cite web|url=https://nylcv.org/news/nylcv-releases-2019-state-environmental-scorecard/|title=NYLCV Releases 2019 State Environmental Scorecard|date=2019-08-27|website=New York League of Conservation Voters|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-21}}

In 2020, Walczyk garnered more than 60% of the vote, defeating his opponent Alex Hammond.{{cite web | url=https://ballotpedia.org/Mark_Walczyk | title=Mark Walczyk | work=ballotpedia.org | accessdate=8 February 2023}}

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.{{cite web | url=https://www.nny360.com/news/stlawrencecounty/walczyk-wants-to-bring-back-balanced-government-in-state-senate-run/article_dfa139a9-241d-5b01-ba77-4f595fb36d13.html | title=Walczyk wants to bring back balanced government in state Senate run | work=www.nny360.com | date=7 March 2022 | accessdate=8 February 2023 | author=Gault, Alex}} After securing the Republican nomination, Walczyk won the general election unopposed.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-09 |title=Unopposed Mark Walczyk wins 49th District State Senate seat |url=https://www.rochesterfirst.com/election/unopposed-mark-walczyk-wins-49th-district-state-senate-seat/ |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=RochesterFirst |language=en-US}}

Walczyk serves as the Ranking member of the Senate's Elections Committee and the Cultural Affairs, Tourism and Parks and Recreation Committee.{{Cite web |title=About Mark Walczyk |url=https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/mark-walczyk/about |access-date=2023-08-08 |website=NYSenate.gov |language=en}} He also sits on the Senate Agriculture, Energy, Internet and Technology Committee and the Rural Resources Commission.

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.{{Cite web |title=North Country senator calls for changes in solar farm safety guidelines |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/2023/08/02/north-country-senator-calls-for-changes-in-solar-farm-safety |access-date=2023-08-07 |website=spectrumlocalnews.com |language=en}} 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.{{Citation |title=Senator Mark Walczyk Questions Senator Parker Regarding New York State Build Public Renewables Act | date=6 March 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYWWDQrr1Qk |access-date=2023-08-07 |language=en}}

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.{{cite web |author=Gault, Alex |date=26 July 2021 |title=White Caps, The Cape wineries added to Seaway Wine Trail |url=https://www.nny360.com/communitynews/business/white-caps-the-cape-wineries-added-to-seaway-wine-trail/article_14bbf3f3-3b87-551a-b8f4-ca204184a358.html |accessdate=8 February 2023 |work=www.nny360.com}}

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.{{Cite web |title=Senator Walczyk Stands With Republican Legislators To Demand Transparency In Budget Process |url=https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2023/mark-walczyk/senator-walczyk-stands-republican-legislators-demand |access-date=2023-08-07 |website=NYSenate.gov |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2023-S5718 |url=https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S5718/amendment/original |access-date=2023-08-07 |website=NYSenate.gov |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |last=GAULTagault@wdt.net |first=ALEX |date=2023-06-22 |title=Walczyk says he's appalled by new LGBTQ+ guidance from state education department; queer advocate accuses him of fearmongering |url=https://www.nny360.com/top_stories/walczyk-says-he-s-appalled-by-new-lgbtq-guidance-from-state-education-department-queer-advocate/article_f7d507ba-d158-5592-a756-a2c892b971de.html |access-date=2023-08-07 |website=NNY360 |language=en}}

Walczyk announced his deployment to Kuwait for nine months starting late January 2024, missing the bulk of the year's legislative session{{cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/ny-state-of-politics/2023/12/08/north-country-state-senator-kuwait-deployment|title=North Country state senator deploying to Kuwait|date=December 8, 2023|access-date=February 18, 2024|last=Williams|first=Tim|website=Spectrum News 1}} His office stated that he would not be resigning and that staff will continue handling constituent services in his absence.{{cite web|url=https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/adirondack-senator-to-deploy-to-kuwait|title=Adirondack senator to deploy to Kuwait|date=December 23, 2023|access-date=February 18, 2024|last=Craig|first=Gwendolyn|website=Adirondack Explorer}}

During his absence during session, seven of Senator Walczyk's bills passed both houses. These ranged from technical changes to existing law,{{Cite web |title=NY State Senate Bill 2023-S8045 |url=https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S8045 |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=www.nysenate.gov |language=en}} authorizing a land transfer for an economic development initiative.{{Cite web |title=NY State Senate Bill 2023-S9160 |url=https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S9160 |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=www.nysenate.gov |language=en}} The office has also advocated for increased cellular coverage in the Adirondack Park, citing communication difficulties for vacationers and Park residents alike.{{Cite web |title=Stec pushes for more cell phone service in ADK Park |url=https://suncommunitynews.com/news/111663/stec-pushes-for-more-cell-phone-service-in-adk-park/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=suncommunitynews.com |language=en}}

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In 2012, Walczyk was recruited to serve as an Engineer Officer in the Army Reserve{{Citation needed|date=April 2024}}. 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|date=April 2024}}.

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|date=April 2024}}.

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwnytv.com/2019/11/18/walczyks-buy-downtown-watertown-building/|title=Walczyks buy downtown Watertown building|last=Rutherford|first=Diane|website=wwnytv.com|date=18 November 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-21}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Mark-Walczyk/bio/|title=New York State Assembly {{!}} Mark Walczyk|website=nyassembly.gov|access-date=2020-02-20}}

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{{Cite web|url=http://www.tri226.de/ergebnislisten/florida/im-florida2007.htm|website=www.tri226.de|title = 2007 FORD IRONMAN FLORIDA|access-date=2020-02-21}}
• 2010 Ford Ironman Lake Placid: 12:50:13{{Cite web|url=http://www.albanyrunningexchange.org/results/textDisplay.php?ID=1670|title=ARE Results Viewer: Ford Ironman Lake Placid held July 25, 2010|website=www.albanyrunningexchange.org|access-date=2020-02-21}}
• 2011 Ford Ironman Cozumel: 11:42:32{{Cite web|url=https://docplayer.es/61088678-Ironman-cozumel-de-noviembre-del-2011-cozumel-mexico-27-de-noviembre-de-2011-resultados-oficiales.html|title=Ironman Cozumel de Noviembre del 2011-Cozumel, México 27 de Noviembre de 2011 Resultados oficiales - PDF Free Download|website=docplayer.es|access-date=2020-02-21}}
• 2017 Ironman Maryland: 12:19:48{{Cite web|url=http://tri.cafe/races/151|title=Tri.☕|website=tri.cafe|access-date=2020-02-21}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Politicians from Watertown, New York

Category:Republican Party members of the New York State Assembly

Category:New York (state) city council members

Category:University at Albany, SUNY alumni

Category:1985 births

Category:Republican Party New York (state) state senators

Category:21st-century members of the New York State Legislature