At a special meeting of the minority conference on Feb. 9, Assemblymember Edward Ra was named as the Minority Leader for the New York State Assembly.

This comes after former minority leader Assemblymember William Barclay stepped down from the position and announced that he will not seek re-election on Feb. 5. Ra, who was elected unanimously by his Republican colleagues, had previously served on the Assembly Ways and Means committee as its ranking member where he participated in the debate and analysis of the New York State budget.

“I am profoundly grateful for the trust and support my colleagues have placed in me and I’m excited for what’s ahead,” Ra said in a release put out by the Assembly minority. “As a member of this Conference for nearly 16 years, I recognize the dedication and commitment Assembly Republicans bring to the job every day. I look forward to working alongside each of them as we continue fighting for responsible government, affordability, public safety and a better New York for everyone who lives here and visits our great state.”

His appointment comes after Barclay announced he would not seek re-election in the fall and stepped down from the position of minority leader to allow “for a smooth transition to new leadership early in the legislative session.”

Barclay congratulated Ra on his appointment, and said that he has full faith and confidence in Ra’s ability to guide the conference. “Ed is among the most respected members of the Legislature, and his track record of hard work, intelligence and commitment to our Conference will serve him well as Minority Leader,” Barclay said in a statement. “I wish him great success in guiding the Conference forward.”

Ra went straight to work after his appointment, and worked on shuffling around some leadership positions so the conference could get underway.

“At a time when families are facing higher costs and growing uncertainty, strong leadership matters,” said Ra. “This team brings experience, integrity and a strong commitment to holding government accountable while advancing common-sense solutions that make New York more affordable and safer.”

Those Republican appointments include Assemblymember Phil Palmesano to Ra’s old position as ranking member of Ways and Means, Assemblymember Ken Blankenbush as deputy minority leader, Assemblymember Karl Brabenac and Assemblymember Angelo Morinello as assistant minority leaders, Assemblymember Douglas Smith as deputy minority whip, and Assemblymember Micahel Durso as assistant minority whip.

In a statement announcing his appointment, Palmesano thanked Ra for trusting him to serve as the minority conference voice on the crucial committee.

“I am honored to be appointed as the ranking minority member of the Ways and Means Committee,” Palmesano said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure transparency, accountability and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.”

Ra also appointed Assemblymember Scott Gray to be the ranking member on the energy committee, and Assemblymember Paul Bologna as another member of the committee.

“Energy costs and reliability are on the mind of every New Yorker, and among the most pressing issues facing Albany this year,” Ra said. “The Assembly Energy Committee will be essential to identifying solutions for the problems at hand. I’m proud to appoint Scott Gray as the ranking minority member and happy to name Paul Bologna to this important committee.”

Gray was grateful to Ra for appointing him to the position: “We are at a crossroads in this state; policies in Albany continue to strain the capabilities of our energy grid while pushing energy costs higher, forcing consumers to choose between buying groceries or heating their homes,” Gray said.

Speaker Carl Heastie congratulated Ra on his new position, saying that Ra is “a dedicated public servant who has served admirably as the ranking member on the Ways and Means Committee and led thoughtful debate in his previous role as minority leader pro tempore.”

Heastie had a friendly relationship with Barclay, which is reflected in the release he put out to wish the departing minority leader well. “I’m normally happy when a Republican leaves office, but Minority Leader Will Barclay is a distinct exception to that rule,” Heastie said in the release. “In all seriousness, he has been a good friend and partner in government. Even when we disagreed on policy, I knew we could always work together with respect and collegiality. I wish him all the best.”