By Ashley M. Casey

Associate Editor

New York State Assemblyman Will Barclay (R-120th District), who represents the town of Lysander, was elected to lead the Assembly Minority Conference by his fellow Republicans on Jan. 7.

“As we start a new year, the members of our conference will help ensure that every corner of our state is a better place for every New Yorker. I am honored and excited to have their confidence and to work alongside them as minority leader,” Barclay said in a statement.

Former Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb (R-131st District, Canandaigua) stepped down from his leadership post after he was charged New Year’s Eve with driving while intoxicated and making an unsafe turn. Kolb pleaded not guilty to the charges in Victor Town Court on Jan. 9. He remains in office as an assemblymember.

In his remarks at the Jan. 8 opening of the 2020 legislative session, Barclay said the transition from Kolb’s leadership has been a “difficult time” for the minority conference.

“Our former leader, I think we all would agree, has put his heart and soul into this job and the unfortunate circumstances that happened to him forcing him to step down from his leadership position has been very hard on him, it’s been very hard on his family, and it’s been hard on all of us. With that being said, though, we need to turn the page,” he said.

Barclay, who lives in Pulaski, was first elected to the NYS Assembly in 2002. The 120th District includes much of Oswego County as well as the Onondaga County town of Lysander and the Jefferson County town of Ellisburg. During his time in the Assembly, Barclay has served as the GOP Conference’s ranking minority member on the Ways and Means Committee, Ranking Minority Member of the Insurance Committee, as well as a member of the Assembly Committees on Energy, Judiciary and Rules. He also has held roles including Deputy Minority Leader, Assistant Minority Leader, Chair of the Minority Joint Conference Committee and Vice Chair of the Minority Program Committee.

“It’s a new role for me. I’m looking forward to serving my conference in this role,” Barclay told the Messenger of his new leadership position. “I’m certainly going to have a louder voice which I’m excited about pushing against these horrible policies and making things better for New Yorkers.”

On the heels of his election as minority leader, Barclay criticized many of the proposals outlined in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2020 State of the State Address, delivered Jan. 8.

Barclay called the projected $6.1 billion state budget deficit “tragic.”

“It’s tragic because elsewhere in the country we’re having great economic developments, but here in New York because of financial mismanagement [we’re facing a deficit],” Barclay said.

When asked what ideas he has for closing the gap, Barclay said, “I’m a little put off by that question because I didn’t put us in it. I want to see what the governor has to say.”

Barclay suggested the state cut back on economic development programs such as tax credits for filmmakers, which he said benefits Hollywood elites instead of the average New Yorker.

“I don’t think raising taxes is the answer,” he said, adding that the state must work to ease the burden on taxpayers.

For Barclay, the answer to closing the budget gap won’t come with the governor’s proposal to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Barclay called this the “wrong direction” for the state to move in.

“I just find that an interesting priority for the governor and the majority. The governor has been pushing for a ban on vaping,” Barclay said. “It seems odd that now we’re pushing to legalize a drug.”

The assemblyman is open to reconsidering criminal penalties for marijuana, however.

“We feel that people are wrongly being criminalized for marijuana and can look at softening the penalties,” he said.

As for vaping, Barclay said it is not good that young people have taken to the practice, but e-cigarettes and vaping can be helpful to those seeking to quit smoking. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a spate of lung illnesses reported in 2019 has been correlated with vitamin E acetate found in vaping products that include THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana).

“I’m open to finding some sort of compromise with people who want to talk intelligently about the issue and not sensationalize the issue,” Barclay said of vaping.

Barclay also took aim at the cash bail reform passed in the most recent state budget. The law, which eliminated cash bail for misdemeanors and certain felonies, went into effect Jan. 1.

“Since this went into effect … some violent alleged criminals are being released and their release is causing public safety issues,” Barclay said. “Clearly this law is not working.”

Barclay said Democratic supporters of the law have been urging critics to give it time.

“I don’t think we can give it more time. We ought to repeal the law and go back and talk to law enforcement, talk to district attorneys, talk to judges,” Barclay said.

Barclay also criticized Cuomo’s proposed “Nothing to Hide Act,” which would require many NYS elected officials — including the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, state lawmakers and commissioners — to make their tax returns public.

“I think that’s 100% political. I think it’s a shot at the president,” Barclay said.

In July 2019, Cuomo signed a law that would allow Congress to access President Donald Trump’s NYS tax returns. Trump has long declined to make his tax returns public.

Barclay said legislators are already required to report any outside income they receive as well as their campaign finance transactions.

“I don’t think there’s a crying need out there for legislators to release their tax returns,” he said.