William A. Barclay
Will Barclay | |
|---|---|
| Minority Leader of the New York State Assembly | |
| Assumed office January 7, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Brian Kolb |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from the 120th district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Bob Warner |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Anson Barclay January 5, 1969 Syracuse, New York, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Margaret Barclay |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | H. Douglas Barclay (father) |
| Education | St. Lawrence University (BA) Syracuse University (JD) |
| Signature | |
| Website | State Assembly website |
William Anson Barclay[1][2] (born January 5, 1969)[3] is an American politician and attorney from the State of New York. A Republican, he has served in the New York State Assembly since 2003. In January 2020, Barclay was elected to the position of Assembly minority leader.
Early life, family, education, and law practice
Barclay was born in Syracuse, New York,[3] to H. Douglas Barclay and Dee Dee Barclay. His father, who served as U.S. ambassador to El Salvador and as chair of the Republican Conference in the New York State Senate, was "among the most influential Republicans in New York state during a 52-year political career". The Barclay family owns Douglas Outdoors, an Otsego County company that makes fishing equipment.[4]
Barclay earned his B.A. from St. Lawrence University in 1992 and his Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law in 1995.[4] After graduating from law school, he served as a clerk for Roger Miner, a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.[5]
Barclay is a partner in the law firm of Barclay Damon.[6]
Political career
Barclay was first elected to the State Assembly on November 5, 2002,[5] defeating Democrat E. Clyde Ohl by a margin of 21,848 to 14,594.[7] He took office in 2003.[8] Barclay won the November 2008 general election with 67 percent of the vote[9][10] and ran uncontested in the November 2010 and 2012 general elections.[11][12][13] A Republican,[6] Barclay represents the 120th District in the New York State Assembly. As of 2024, the 120th district includes Oswego County and portions of Cayuga and Jefferson Counties.[6]
Barclay ran for New York State Senate in New York's 48th Senate district in a 2008 special election.[14][7] He sought to replace former senator Jim Wright, who stepped down. Barclay lost the election to Democratic assemblyman Darrel Aubertine on February 27, 2008.[15]
On January 7, 2020, Barclay was unanimously elected to the post of Assembly minority leader by his Republican colleagues[4] following the resignation of Brian Kolb.[6] He previously served as Deputy minority leader, as chair of the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee, and as ranking member of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.[16][17]
Barclay has called for the repeal of the following laws: New York's 2019 bail reform law; the Raise the Age Act, which increased the age at which persons are held accountable for crimes as adults;[18] the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement (HALT) Act, which he argued has caused increases in prison violence;[19] the Green Light Law,[20] which allowed undocumented immigrants to obtain New York driver licenses;[21] the NY SAFE Act,[22] a 2013 gun control law;[23] and congestion pricing in New York City.[24] Barclay and the Assembly Minority Conference have proposed an Inflation Relief and Consumer Assistance Plan (which would remove sales taxes on some essential goods) as well as tax incentives for families and childcare providers.[25][26] He opposed 2024 New York Proposal 1, an equal rights amendment to the Constitution of New York.[27]
Personal life
Barclay and his wife, Margaret, have two sons: Harry and George. As of 2020, the Barclays lived on a 500-acre farm on the Salmon River in Pulaski, New York. Nine generations of Barclays have resided at the farm, and the Barclays' house was built by Barclay's fourth great-grandfather.[4][7]
References
- ^ "US. Index to Public Records". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
- ^ "Assembly Member William A. 'Will' Barclay (NY)". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
- ^ a b "William A. Barclay (R), District 124". Capitol Info. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
- ^ a b c d Weiner, Mark (January 7, 2020). "Meet Will Barclay, NY Assembly's new Republican leader". syracuse.com.
- ^ a b "William A. Barclay: Biography". New York State Assembly. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
- ^ a b c d Campbell, Jon (January 7, 2020). "Will Barclay elected Assembly minority leader after Brian Kolb steps down". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
- ^ a b c McChesney, Charles (February 21, 2008). "Will Barclay: Republican had his party's nomination sewn up within days". Syracuse.com.
- ^ Reitz, Matthew (November 7, 2008). "Barclay wins 9th term in state Assembly". Oswego County News Now.
- ^ "Election Results 2008: New York State Legislature". The New York Times. 2008.
- ^ "Assembly Election Returns: November 4, 2008" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 23, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
- ^ "Election Results 2010: New York State Legislature". The New York Times. 2010.
- ^ "Assembly Election Returns: November 2, 2010" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
- ^ "2012 Election results: How Syracuse and Central New York voted". Syracuse.com. November 8, 2012.
- ^ McChesney, Charles (February 17, 2008). "Barclay declares for Wright's Senate seat". Syracuse.com. Archived from the original on February 17, 2008.
- ^ Lee, Trymaine (February 27, 2008). "Upset Sends Democrat to Albany". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ Vielkind, Jimmy (January 5, 2020). "New York State Assembly Republicans to Pick New Leader After Kolb Steps Aside". WSJ.
- ^ Lyons, Brendan (January 6, 2020). "Barclay in line for Assembly leadership post after Kolb's exit". Times Union.
- ^ Johnson, Kate Lisa (July 14, 2020). "GOP urges justice policy reversals after crime spike". Schenectady Gazette.
- ^ "Minority Leader calls for an end to HALT Act". Observer Today. February 2025.
- ^ "Barclay calls for repeal of 'Green Light Law' amid northern border concerns". fingerlakes1.com. September 27, 2024.
- ^ Whalen, Ryan (January 7, 2025). "New York's 'Green Light Law' is in the Trump administration's crosshairs". spectrumlocalnews.com.
- ^ "Continued Controversy Surrounding The Safe Act". Oswego County Today. July 20, 2015.
- ^ "Gun control and SAFE Act popular in NY, voters Upstate divided". NCPR. March 20, 2018.
- ^ "Assembly Minority Leader critiques Hochul's State of the State for lacking specifics". fingerlakes1.com. January 18, 2025.
- ^ Barclay, Will (January 3, 2025). "GOP Assembly Will Prioritize Affordability, Public Safety". lilifepolitics.com.
- ^ "Public safety, affordability headline NYS Assembly Minority Conference 2025 session priorities". fingerlakes1.com. January 5, 2025.
- ^ "Prop 1 Is A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing". Oswego County Today. September 21, 2024.