Arthur Barclay (born April 29, 1982) is an American former collegiate basketball player and Democratic Party politician who represented the 5th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from when he was sworn into office on January 12, 2016, until he resigned from office on June 18, 2018, after being charged with assault relating to domestic violence.[1]
High school and collegiate basketball career[edit]
A native of Camden, Barclay graduated from Camden High School as part of the class of 2000.[2] During his senior year, he was captain of the Camden Panthers basketball team that won the NJSIAATournament of Champions, defeating Seton Hall Preparatory School in the championship game by a score of 50–46; The 6-foot-8-inch (2.03 m) forward had 12 points and 14 rebounds in the win, with 27 points from teammate and future NBA player Dajuan Wagner.[3][4][5] Barclay scored 1,259 points in his high school career and was recognized in 2013 by inclusion in the South Jersey Basketball Hall of Fame.[6]
Barclay played for three years on the Memphis Tigers men's basketball team, averaging 2.6 points per game in the 2001–02 season, 2.1 points a game in 2003–04 and 2.1 points per game in 2004–05.[8] He graduated with a bachelor's degree in sociology from Memphis.[9]
He has worked for the Camden County Department of Events and Community Outreach[9] and been an assistant basketball coach at Camden High School.[10]
Barcaly lost a bid for election to an at-large seat on the Camden City Council in 2009 as part of a slate with Mayor Angel Cordero.[10]
After Councilwoman Deborah Person-Polk decided against running for a second term of office, Barclay was selected by the Camden County Democratic Committee in April 2013 to replace Person-Polk and run for City Council in the Democratic primary under the official party line.[11] After winning in the primary, Barclay was elected in the November 2013 general election and served on the Camden City Council from 2014 to 2016.[9][10]
Barclay was chosen to fill one of the two Democratic Party ballot spots for the November 2015 general election after primary victor Holly Cass volunteered to step aside. His Assembly running mate, Patricia Egan Jones had been chosen to fill the Assembly seat and ballot position that had been held by Angel Fuentes until he resigned from office.[2]
As a member of the General Assembly, Barclay has been appointed to serve on the Higher Education Committee and the Law and Public Safety Committee.[9]
^Trethan, Phaedra. "Assemblyman Arthur Barclay resigns after arrest for simple assault", Courier-Post, June 18, 2018. Accessed June 19, 2018. "Arthur Barclay, a state assemblyman and former Camden High School basketball standout, has resigned his legislator position days after he was charged with simple assault during a domestic incident. Camden County Democratic Party Chairman James Beach announced Monday evening that Barclay stepped down 'effective immediately … for health reasons.'"
^Strauss, Robert. "SCHOOLS; Camden Makes It the Hard Way", The New York Times, March 26, 2000. Accessed August 18, 2016. "He took up a friendship with a gawky older youth in the neighborhood, Arthur Barclay.... Arthur, now 6 foot 8, had 12 points and 14 rebounds."
^Anastasia, Phil. "Camden's Dajuan Wagner aims to play again in NBA", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 9, 2014. Accessed August 18, 2016. "Wagner last played in the NBA in November 2006.... Camden city councilman Arthur Barclay, a teammate of Wagner's at Camden and Memphis, said his old friend's return to the court would be a thrill."
^Minnick, Kevin. "Basketball: Inductees for S.J. Hall of Fame", Courier-Post, January 3, 2013. Accessed August 21, 2016. "Inductees include Ron Powell (Cherokee/RV), Cheryl Reeve (Washington Township), Arthur Barclay (Camden), DeMya Walker (RV), Louis Roe (Atlantic City), Monica Johnson (Wildwood), Joe Graham (Riverside) and Glenn Sandusky (Board 34)."
^Rodrick, Stephen. "Big Man Temporarily On Campus", The New York Times, November 25, 2001. Accessed August 21, 2016. "And Arthur Barclay, Wagner's best friend and high-school teammate, received a basketball scholarship after Wesley made it clear that Wagner was inclined to attend a school that paid Barclay's way, too."
^ abcLaday, Jason. "Camden County, Camden city sees Democratic sweep at polls", South Jersey Times, November 5, 2013. Accessed August 21, 2013. "On city council, Redd’s establishment Democratic slate won out, with voters re-electing Vice President Curtis Jenkins and fellow incumbent Marilyn Torres. Democratic newcomer Arthur Barclay will join them on the council.... This was not Barclay's first run for city council, having run unsuccessfully in 2009 as part of then-mayoral candidate Cordero's slate, against Redd and her slate."
