William A. Barclay
Will Barclay | |
---|---|
Minority Leader of theNew York State Assembly | |
Assumed office January 7, 2020 | |
Preceded by | Brian Kolb |
Member of theNew York State Assembly from the120thdistrict | |
Assumed office January 1, 2003 | |
Preceded by | Bob Warner |
Personal details | |
Born | William Anson Barclay January 5, 1969 Syracuse, New York,U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Margaret |
Children | 2 |
Relatives | Hugh 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, education, family, and law practice
[edit]Barclay was born inSyracuse, New York.[3]He earned hisB.A.fromSt. Lawrence Universityin 1992 and hisJuris DoctorfromSyracuse University College of Lawin 1995.[4]After graduating from law school he served as a clerk forRoger Miner,a judge in theUnited States Court of AppealsSecond Circuit, in bothAlbanyandNew York City.[5]
Barclay is a partner in the law firm of Barclay Damon.[6]His father isHugh Douglas Barclay,a formerU.S. Ambassador to El Salvadorand a former chair of the Republican Conference in theNew York State Senate.[4]
As of January 2020, Barclay and his wife Margaret are the parents of two sons, Harry and George. Nine generations of Barclays have resided in Pulaski, New York.[4]
Political career
[edit]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 2008general electionwith 67 percent of the vote[9][10]and ran uncontested in the November 2010 and 2012 general elections.[11][12][13]ARepublican,Barclay represents the 120th District in theNew York State Assembly.As of 2020, the 120th district includesOswego, New Yorkand portions ofOnondaga,JeffersonandOswegocounties.[5]
On December 14, 2007,[citation needed]Barclay announced his candidacy forNew York State Senatein New York's 48th Senate district.[14][7]He sought to replace former SenatorJim Wright,who stepped down. Barclay lost the election to Democratic AssemblymanDarrel Aubertineon 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 ofBrian 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]
On August 31, 2020, during an interview with Susan Arbetter onSpectrum News'Capital Tonight, an Albany-based political insider television program, Barclay would not say if he believed in anthropogenic climate change. Barclay also claimed that natural gas "had gotten a bad rap," and said that if climate change was responsible forHurricane Sandy,"we can't say climate change is responsible for a really cold winter."[18]
On October 26, 2022, the Albany-based statewide environmental 501(c)(4) non-profit Environmental Advocates Action,[19]formed in 1969 as one of the first organizations in the nation to advocate for the future of a state's environment and the health of its citizens, released its annual Environmental Scorecard[19]and gave Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay its 2022 "Oil Slick Award," which symbolizes his disregard for the environment (based upon his environmental votes). His consistent anti-environmental ethos is well documented, and not "opinion." Environmental Advocates Action's sister organization is Environmental Advocates NY, which is the New York State affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation.[20]
References
[edit]- ^"US. Index to Public Records".ancestry.Retrieved2021-04-07.
- ^"Assembly Member William A. 'Will' Barclay (NY)".Project Vote Smart.RetrievedMarch 24,2011.
- ^ab"William A. Barclay (R), District 124".Capitol Info. Archived fromthe originalon January 30, 2013.RetrievedMarch 24,2011.
- ^abcd"Meet Will Barclay, NY Assembly's new Republican leader".newyorkupstate.January 7, 2020.
- ^abc"William A. Barclay: Biography".New York State Assembly.RetrievedMarch 24,2011.
- ^abCampbell, Jon (January 7, 2020)."Will Barclay elected Assembly minority leader after Brian Kolb steps down".Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
- ^abMcChesney, Charles (February 21, 2008)."Will Barclay: Republican had his party's nomination sewn up within days".Syracuse.
- ^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.
- ^"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 fromthe original(PDF)on December 18, 2013.RetrievedJuly 24,2012.
- ^"2012 Election results: How Syracuse and Central New York voted".Syracuse.November 8, 2012.
- ^McChesney, Charles (February 17, 2008)."Barclay declares for Wright's Senate seat".Syracuse.Archived fromthe originalon February 17, 2008.
- ^Lee, Trymaine (February 27, 2008)."Upset Sends Democrat to Albany".The New York Times– via NYTimes.
- ^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.
- ^"How COVID-19 Could Make Fighting Climate Change in New York Tougher".spectrumlocalnews.Retrieved2023-12-27.
- ^ab"Environmental Advocates Action Publishes NYS Environmental Scorecard".Environmental Advocates Action.Retrieved2022-11-01.
- ^"National Wildlife Federation".National Wildlife Federation.Retrieved2022-11-01.
- 1969 births
- 21st-century American legislators
- Lawyers from Syracuse, New York
- Living people
- Republican Party members of the New York State Assembly
- Politicians from Syracuse, New York
- St. Lawrence University alumni
- Syracuse University College of Law alumni
- People from Pulaski, New York
- 21st-century New York (state) politicians