Mark Walczyk

Mark C. Walczyk (WALL-sic; 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 116th district of the New York State Assembly, covering Northern Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties. Walcyzk first won the seat in 2018, when he unseated 10-year incumbent Addie Jenne.[1]

Mark C. Walczyk
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 116th district
Assumed office
January 9, 2019
Preceded byAddie Jenne
Member of the Watertown City Council
In office
2016–2019
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Jessica (m. 2019)
ResidenceWatertown, New York, U.S.
EducationUniversity at Albany, SUNY, B.S.
WebsiteOfficial website
Campaign website

Early life

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 a Captain in the 791st Forward Engineer Support Team (FEST).

Political career

In 2007, while attending SUNY Albany Walczyk interned in the NYS Senate through Student Programs. Later, 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 4-way race. He served on the Council for 3 years before being elected to the Assembly.[2][3][4][5]

Walczyk announced in May 2018 that he would challenge incumbent Democratic Assemblywoman Addie Jenne, who had represented the Assembly's 116th district for 10 years.[6] That November, Walczyk defeated Jenne with 53% of the vote.[7][8]

In the Assembly, Walczyk serves as the ranking Republican on the Social Services Committee and member of the following committees: Cities, Energy, Transportation, Higher Education. In January, 2020, Walczyk was appointed to the Legislative Commission on Rural Resources.[9] Walczyk considers himself an environmentalist, earning the highest environmental voting record of any Assembly Republican, according to the NY League of Conservation Voters.[10]

Military service

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 failed to tab), 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.

Personal life

Walczyk lives in Watertown with his wife, Jessica, where they’re restoring a downtown building to its former glory.[11]

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, 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. His favorite Buffalo Bills player of all time is the ever-inspirational Douglas Richard Flutie.[12]

Ironman

Walczyk got involved in tri-sport young, participating in Henderson Harbor Triathlon at age 13. To date, he’s competed in countless local triathlons and completed 4 full Ironman distance races:

  • 2007 Ford Ironman Florida:  13:07:25[13]
  • 2010 Ford Ironman Lake Placid: 12:50:13[14]
  • 2011 Ford Ironman Cozumel: 11:42:32[15]
  • 2017 Ironman Maryland: 12:19:48[16]
gollark: Kristforge?
gollark: cactus🌵reactus
gollark: Bring Back 🌵reactions!
gollark: `:cactus:`overlord
gollark: 🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵

References
  1. "Mark Walczyk Wins 116th Assembly District". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  2. "Mark Walczyk Wins 116th Assembly District". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  3. WRITER, CRAIG FOX TIMES STAFF. "Seven vying for seats on City Council". NNY360. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  4. tbooker@wdt.net, TED BOOKER. "Walczyk wins, Horbacz leads". NNY360. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  5. cfox@wdt.net, CRAIG FOX. "Sparks fly before city budget is adopted". NNY360. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  6. David Sommerstein (May 11, 2018). "Watertown councilman launches challenge for Addie Jenne's Assembly seat". North Country Public Radio. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  7. Craig Fox (November 8, 2018). "Walczyk unseats Jenne". NNY 360. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  8. "Walczyk unseats Jenne in race for 116th state Assembly District; opposes universal healthcare, SAFE Act | NorthCountryNow". northcountrynow.com. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  9. "New York State Assembly | Mark Walczyk". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  10. "NYLCV Releases 2019 State Environmental Scorecard". New York League of Conservation Voters. 2019-08-27. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  11. Rutherford, Diane. "Walczyks buy downtown Watertown building". wwnytv.com. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  12. "New York State Assembly | Mark Walczyk". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  13. "2007 FORD IRONMAN FLORIDA". www.tri226.de. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  14. "ARE Results Viewer: Ford Ironman Lake Placid held July 25, 2010". www.albanyrunningexchange.org. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  15. "Ironman Cozumel de Noviembre del 2011-Cozumel, México 27 de Noviembre de 2011 Resultados oficiales - PDF Free Download". docplayer.es. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  16. "Tri.☕". tri.cafe. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
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