Mark Walczyk

Mark Walczyk
Walczyk in 2024
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
Personal details
Born (1985-07-03) July 3, 1985
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
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Army Reserve
RankCaptain
Unit484th Forward Engineer Support Team

Mark C. Walczyk (/ˈwɑːlsɪk/; 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 a term in the New York State Assembly.[1][2]

Career

Watertown City Council

In 2015, Walczyk was elected to the city council of Watertown.[3] His campaign focused on issues such as combating the "drug epidemic,” fixing roads, and rebuilding a pool in Thompson Park.[4] He was sworn in on January 1, 2016.[5]

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.[6] He served on the council for three years before taking office in the New York State Assembly in 2019.[7]

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.[8] Walczyk defeated Jenne with in the general election with about 54% of the vote.[7]

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.[9] After securing the Republican nomination, Walczyk won the general election unopposed.[10]

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.[11]

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.[12]

He criticized the New York State Education Department for releasing guidance that would diminish parental rights.[13] Walczyk and U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik blamed the closure of the Remington Arms factory in Illion on New York’s gun control laws.[14]

Walczyk announced his deployment to Kuwait for nine months starting late January 2024, missing the entire year's legislative session.[15] His office stated that he would not be resigning and that staff will continue handling constituent services in his absence.[16] 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.[17]

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.[18][19] 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.[20]

Personal life

Walczyk lives in Watertown with his wife, Jessica.[21] He is a four-time participant in the Ironman Triathlon and an Eagle Scout.[22]

References

  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. ^ Fox, Craig (July 10, 2015). "Seven vying for seats on City Council". NNY360. Archived from the original on February 21, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  4. ^ Booker, Ted (November 4, 2015). "Walczyk wins, Horbacz leads". NNY360. Archived from the original on February 5, 2020.
  5. ^ Valverde, Alex (January 1, 2016). "New Watertown Mayor, Council Members Sworn in on New Year's Day". Spectrum News 1 Central New York. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  6. ^ Fox, Craig (June 6, 2017). "Sparks fly before city budget is adopted". NNY360. Archived from the original on February 21, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Higgins, Oniqua (November 7, 2018). "Mark Walczyk Wins 116th Assembly District". Spectrum News 1 Central New York. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  8. ^ Sommerstein, David (May 11, 2018). "Watertown councilman launches challenge for Addie Jenne's Assembly seat". North Country Public Radio. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  9. ^ Gault, Alex (7 March 2022). "Walczyk wants to bring back balanced government in state Senate run". www.nny360.com. Retrieved 8 February 2023.(subscription required)
  10. ^ "Unopposed Mark Walczyk wins 49th District State Senate seat". WWTI. November 9, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  11. ^ Dwyer, Brian (August 2, 2023). "North Country senator calls for changes in solar farm safety guidelines". Spectrum News 1 Central New York. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  12. ^ Gault, Alex (26 July 2021). "White Caps, The Cape wineries added to Seaway Wine Trail". www.nny360.com. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  13. ^ [email protected], 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.
  14. ^ Burke, Molly (December 11, 2023). "Remington factory closure ignites debate over NY gun laws". Times Union. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  15. ^ Williams, Tim (December 8, 2023). "North Country state senator deploying to Kuwait". Spectrum News 1. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  16. ^ Craig, Gwendolyn (December 23, 2023). "Adirondack senator to deploy to Kuwait". Adirondack Explorer. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  17. ^ Dwyer, Brian (January 7, 2025). "Home from deployment, New York state senator prepares for new legislative session". Spectrum News 1 Central New York. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  18. ^ "Walczyk won't run for Stefanik's seat". WWNY-TV. January 13, 2025. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  19. ^ Hodgman, Lucy (November 13, 2024). "Unpacking the potential candidates for Stefanik's seat in New York's 21st District". Adirondack Explorer. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  20. ^ Sheridan, John (March 27, 2025). "New York Republican legislators propose state-level DOGE counterpart". WTEN. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  21. ^ Rutherford, Diane (November 18, 2019). "Walczyks buy downtown Watertown building". WWNY-TV. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  22. ^ Griffin, Emily (October 21, 2020). "Profile of 116th Assembly District incumbent Mark Walczyk". WWNY-TV. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
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