William A. Barclay

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Will Barclay

|office = Minority Leader of the New York State Assembly

|term_start = January 7, 2020

|term_end =

|predecessor = Brian Kolb

|successor =

|state_assembly1 = New York

|district1 = 120th

|term_start1 = January 1, 2003

|term_end1 =

|predecessor1 = Bob Warner

|successor1 =

|birth_name = William Anson Barclay

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|1|5}}

|birth_place = Syracuse, New York, U.S.

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = Republican

|spouse = Margaret Barclay

|children = 2

|relatives = H. Douglas Barclay (father)

|education = St. Lawrence University (BA)
Syracuse University (JD)

|website = {{URL|assembly.state.ny.us/mem/William-A-Barclay|State Assembly website}}

|signature=Will Barclay Signature.png

}}

William Anson Barclay{{Cite web|title=US. Index to Public Records|url=https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/24672427:62209|access-date=2021-04-07|website=www.ancestry.com}} (born January 5, 1969) 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, to H. Douglas Barclay and Dee Dee Barclay.{{cite news|url=https://www.syracuse.com/news/2020/01/meet-will-barclay-ny-assemblys-new-republican-leader.html |title=Meet Will Barclay, NY Assembly's new Republican leader|website=syracuse.com |last=Weiner |first=Mark |date=January 7, 2020}} 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".

Barclay earned his B.A. from St. Lawrence University in 1992 and his Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law in 1995.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorkupstate.com/albany/2020/01/meet-will-barclay-ny-assemblys-new-republican-leader.html|title=Meet Will Barclay, NY Assembly's new Republican leader|date=January 7, 2020|website=newyorkupstate}} 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.

Barclay is a partner in the law firm of Barclay Damon.{{Cite web|url=https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/politics/albany/2020/01/07/will-barclay-elected-assembly-minority-leader-after-brian-kolb-steps-down/2835221001/|title=Will Barclay elected Assembly minority leader after Brian Kolb steps down|first=Jon|last=Campbell|website=Rochester Democrat and Chronicle|date=January 7, 2020}}

Political career

Barclay was first elected to the State Assembly on November 5, 2002, defeating Democrat E. Clyde Ohl by a margin of 21,848 to 14,594.{{Cite web|url=https://www.syracuse.com/news/2008/02/will_barclay_republican_had_hi.html|title=Will Barclay: Republican had his party's nomination sewn up within days|date=February 21, 2008|website=Syracuse.com|last=McChesney|first=Charles}} He took office in 2003.{{Cite web|url=http://www.oswegocountynewsnow.com/news/barclay-wins-th-term-in-state-assembly/article_ef35c1c6-e253-11e8-a1c3-67c0bcd50cdd.html|title=Barclay wins 9th term in state Assembly|first=Matthew|last=Reitz|website=Oswego County News Now|date=November 7, 2008}} Barclay won the November 2008 general election with 67 percent of the vote{{cite web |url= http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/states/legislature/new-york.html |title= Election Results 2008: New York State Legislature |work= The New York Times |year= 2008}}{{cite web |url= http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2008/General/NYSAssembly08.pdf |title= Assembly Election Returns: November 4, 2008 |publisher= New York State Board of Elections |year= 2008}} and ran uncontested in the November 2010 and 2012 general elections.{{cite web |url= http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/new-york/state-legislature |title= Election Results 2010: New York State Legislature |work= The New York Times |year= 2010}}{{cite web |url= http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2010/general/2010Assembly.pdf |title= Assembly Election Returns: November 2, 2010 |publisher= New York State Board of Elections |year= 2010 |access-date= July 24, 2012 |archive-date= December 18, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131218082901/http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2010/general/2010Assembly.pdf |url-status= dead }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.syracuse.com/news/2012/11/2012_election_results_how_syra.html|title=2012 Election results: How Syracuse and Central New York voted|date=November 8, 2012|website=Syracuse.com}} A Republican, 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.{{cite web|url=https://nyassembly.gov/mem/William-A-Barclay/bio/ |title=Biography |website=nyassembly.gov |access-date=December 14, 2024}}

Barclay ran for New York State Senate in New York's 48th Senate district in a 2008 special election.{{Cite web|url=http://www.syracuse.com/articles/news/index.ssf?/base/news-10/1197626690261060.xml&coll=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080217232729/http://www.syracuse.com/articles/news/index.ssf?/base/news-10/1197626690261060.xml&coll=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 17, 2008|title=Barclay declares for Wright's Senate seat|work=Syracuse.com|date=February 17, 2008|last=McChesney|first=Charles}} He sought to replace former Senator Jim Wright, who stepped down. Barclay lost the election to Democratic Assemblyman Darrel Aubertine on February 27, 2008.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/nyregion/27senate.html|title=Upset Sends Democrat to Albany|first=Trymaine|last=Lee|work=The New York Times |date=February 27, 2008|via=NYTimes.com}}

On January 7, 2020, Barclay was unanimously elected to the post of Assembly Minority Leader by his Republican colleagues following the resignation of Brian Kolb. 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-state-assembly-republicans-to-pick-new-leader-after-kolb-steps-aside-11578268800|title=New York State Assembly Republicans to Pick New Leader After Kolb Steps Aside|first=Jimmy|last=Vielkind|website=WSJ|date=January 5, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Barclay-in-line-for-Assembly-leadership-post-14953945.php|title=Barclay in line for Assembly leadership post after Kolb's exit|date=January 6, 2020|website=Times Union|last=Lyons|first=Brendan}}

Personal life

Barclay and his wife, Margaret, are the parents of two sons: Harry and George. As of 2020, the Barclays lived on a 500-acre farm in Pulaski, New York where nine generations of Barclays have resided. Their home was built by Barclay's fourth great-grandfather.