{{short description|American politician}} {{COI|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Mark Walczyk | image = Mark Walczyk Image.jpg | caption = Walczyk in 2025 | state_senate = New York State | district = 49th | term_start = January 1, 2023 | term_end = | predecessor = Patty Ritchie (redistricted) | successor = | state_assembly1 = New York | district1 = 116th | term_start1 = January 1, 2019 | term_end1 = December 31, 2022 | predecessor1 = Addie Jenne | successor1 = Scott Gray | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|7|3}} | birth_place = Brewerton, New York, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Republican | spouse = {{marriage|Jessica|2019}} | education = State University of New York, Albany (BS) | signature = Mark Walczyk Signature.png | website = {{URL|nysenate.gov/senators/mark-walczyk/about|State Senate website}}<br> {{URL|mark4senate.com|Campaign website}} | branch = United States Army Reserve | rank = Captain | unit = 484th Forward Engineer Support Team }} '''Mark C. Walczyk''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|w|aː|l||s|ɪ|k}}; born July 3, 1985) is an American politician and United States Army Reserve officer serving as a member of the New York State Senate for the 49th district since 2023. A Republican, he won the seat in 2022 after serving two terms in the New York State Assembly.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Straub |first=Brendan |title=Mark Walczyk sworn in as a New York state senator |url=https://www.wwnytv.com/2023/01/02/mark-walczyk-sworn-new-york-state-senator/ |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=www.wwnytv.com |date=2 January 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-09 |title=Unopposed Mark Walczyk wins 49th District State Senate seat |url=https://www.localsyr.com/news/local-news/unopposed-mark-walczyk-wins-49th-district-state-senate-seat/ |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=WSYR |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Career == ===Watertown City Council=== In 2015, Walczyk was elected to the city council of Watertown.<ref>{{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=Fox|first=Craig|website=NNY360|date=July 10, 2015|access-date=June 28, 2025 |language=en|archive-date=February 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221035110/https://www.nny360.com/news/seven-vying-for-seats-on-city-council/article_7570debf-99f9-550e-87c6-ab430d49478b.html}}</ref> His campaign focused on issues such as combating the "drug epidemic,” fixing roads, and rebuilding a pool in Thompson Park.<ref>{{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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205192431/https://www.nny360.com/news/walczyk-wins-horbacz-leads/article_5a343f29-7bea-5a03-a7dc-90c83f47461a.html|archive-date=February 5, 2020|website=NNY360|date=November 4, 2015 |language=en}}</ref> He was sworn in on January 1, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/news/2016/01/1/new-watertown-mayor--council-members-sworn-in-on-new-year-s-day|title=New Watertown Mayor, Council Members Sworn in on New Year's Day|last=Valverde|first=Alex|date=January 1, 2016|access-date=June 26, 2025|website=Spectrum News 1 Central New York}}</ref>
In 2017, Walczyk was rebuked by mayor Joseph M. Butler and city councilmembers Teresa R. Macaluso and Stephen A. Jennings after he missed the brunt of the city's budget deliberations while on deployment then tried to make changes to it at the last minute. He ultimately did not cast a vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nny360.com/news/sparks-fly-before-city-budget-is-adopted/article_fc4557de-206f-5b1d-abe5-7d16bc74c964.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221035144/https://www.nny360.com/news/sparks-fly-before-city-budget-is-adopted/article_fc4557de-206f-5b1d-abe5-7d16bc74c964.html|archive-date=February 21, 2020|title=Sparks fly before city budget is adopted|last=Fox|first=Craig|website=NNY360|date=June 6, 2017|access-date=June 28, 2025 |language=en}}</ref> He served on the council for three years before taking office in the New York State Assembly in 2019.<ref name="Higgins 11/7/2018">{{Cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/watertown/news/2018/11/07/walczyk-wins-116th-assembly-district|title=Mark Walczyk Wins 116th Assembly District|last=Higgins|first=Oniqua|date=November 7, 2018|website=Spectrum News 1 Central New York|language=en|access-date=June 26, 2025}}</ref>
===New York State Assembly=== In 2018, Walczyk that he would run for the New York State Assembly in the 116th district, challening incumbent Democrat Addie Jenne.<ref>{{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|first=David|last=Sommerstein|date=May 11, 2018|access-date=June 26, 2025}}</ref> Walczyk defeated Jenne with in the general election with about 54% of the vote.<ref name="Higgins 11/7/2018"/> When running for his second term, Walczyk won against Democrat Alex Hammond 62-37.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mark Walczyk |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Mark_Walczyk |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref>
===New York State Senate=== In 2022, Walczyk announced his campaign for the New York State Senate in the 49th district following incumbent senator Patty Ritchie's retirement.<ref>{{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}}{{subscription required}}</ref> After securing the Republican nomination, Walczyk won the general election unopposed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 9, 2022 |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=June 26, 2025 |website=WWTI |language=en-US}}</ref>
====Tenure==== Walczyk called on Governor Kathy Hochul to pause the installation of new solar farms in the state following a battery fire at a plant in Jefferson County.<ref>{{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 |last=Dwyer|first=Brian|date=August 2, 2023|access-date=June 26, 2025 |website=Spectrum News 1 Central New York |language=en}}</ref>
Walczyk has also worked to strengthen tourism and the local agriculture industry in parts of his district. In 2021, Cuomo signed a piece of legislation sponsored by Walczyk that added two wineries in Jefferson County to the Thousand Islands-Seaway Wine Trail.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
He criticized the New York State Education Department for releasing guidance that he believed would diminish parental rights.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Walczyk and U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik blamed the closure of the Remington Arms factory in Illion on New York’s gun control laws.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesunion.com/capitol/article/ilion-s-remington-plant-closure-sparks-debate-18545347.php|title=Remington factory closure ignites debate over NY gun laws|last=Burke|first=Molly|date=December 11, 2023|access-date=June 26, 2025|website=Times Union}}</ref>
Walczyk announced his deployment to Kuwait for nine months starting late January 2024, missing the entire year's legislative session.<ref name="Williams 12/8/23">{{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}}</ref> His office stated that he would not be resigning and that staff would continue handling constituent services in his absence.<ref>{{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}}</ref> He returned in December 2024 after serving ten months as a captain of the U.S. Army Reserve 484th Forward Engineer Support Team, overseeing construction projects in the Middle East.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/2025/01/07/senator-walczyk-home-deployment|title=Home from deployment, New York state senator prepares for new legislative session|last=Dwyer|first=Brian|date=January 7, 2025|access-date=June 26, 2025|website=Spectrum News 1 Central New York}}</ref>
Although he was speculated to be a candidate in the potential 2025 special election following Elise Stefanik's nomination to be Ambassador to the United Nations, Walczyk said he would not run for the seat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwnytv.com/2025/01/13/walczyk-wont-run-stefaniks-seat/|title=Walczyk won't run for Stefanik's seat|date=January 13, 2025|access-date=June 26, 2025|website=WWNY-TV}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/candidates-stefanik-seat|title=Unpacking the potential candidates for Stefanik's seat in New York's 21st District|last=Hodgman|first=Lucy|date=November 13, 2024|access-date=June 26, 2025|website=Adirondack Explorer}}</ref> In March 2025, Walczyk and other Republican state lawmakers introduced a bill to implement a state-level DOGE, pitched as a bipartisan 'Commission On Government Efficiency' to reduce state spending.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news10.com/news/ny-news/new-york-republican-legislators-propose-state-level-doge-counterpart/|title=New York Republican legislators propose state-level DOGE counterpart|date=March 27, 2025|access-date=June 26, 2025|last=Sheridan|first=John|website=WTEN}}</ref>
==Personal life== Walczyk lives in Watertown with his wife, Jessica.<ref>{{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|date=November 18, 2019|access-date=June 26, 2025|website=WWNY-TV}}</ref> He is a four-time participant in the Ironman Triathlon and an Eagle Scout.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwnytv.com/2020/10/21/profile-th-assembly-district-incumbent-mark-walczyk/|title=Profile of 116th Assembly District incumbent Mark Walczyk|last=Griffin|first=Emily|date=October 21, 2020|access-date=June 26, 2025|website=WWNY-TV}}</ref>
== Military service == Mark Walczyk serves as a Captain in the United States Army Reserve, assigned to the 484th Forward Engineer Support Team. In late January 2024, he was deployed to the Middle East, primarily stationed in Kuwait, for what became a 10-month tour of duty. During his deployment, which lasted approximately 290 days, Captain Walczyk oversaw critical construction projects in multiple countries as part of his engineering unit’s mission.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Home from deployment, N.Y. state senator prepares for new legislative session |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/2025/01/07/senator-walczyk-home-deployment |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=spectrumlocalnews.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=State |first=Tim Williams New York |title=North Country state senator deploying to Kuwait |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/ny-state-of-politics/2023/12/08/north-country-state-senator-kuwait-deployment |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=spectrumlocalnews.com |language=en}}</ref>
Walczyk announced his deployment in December 2023, informing constituents that he would miss most of the 2024 legislative session while serving overseas.<ref name=":1" />
==References== {{reflist|2}}
{{New York State Senate}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walczyk, Mark}} Category:1985 births Category:21st-century members of the New York State Legislature Category:Living people Category:New York (state) city council members Category:Politicians from Watertown, New York Category:Republican Party members of the New York State Assembly Category:Republican Party New York (state) state senators Category:University at Albany alumni