Arthur Barclay (American politician) facts for kids

Arthur Barclay was born on April 29, 1982. He is an American former basketball player and a politician from the Democratic Party. He represented the 5th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly. He served from January 12, 2016, until he resigned on June 18, 2018.

Arthur Barclay's Journey

Arthur Barclay grew up in Camden. He became well-known for his skills in basketball. Later, he chose to serve his community in government.

From Basketball Star to Politician

Arthur Barclay had an impressive basketball career. He played in high school and college. His skills on the court led him to play at a high level.

High School Hoops Success

Barclay graduated from Camden High School in 2000. He was the captain of the Camden Panthers basketball team. In his senior year, the team won the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions. They beat Seton Hall Preparatory School 50–46 in the final game.

Barclay, a 6-foot-8-inch forward, scored 12 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in that win. His teammate, Dajuan Wagner, who later played in the NBA, scored 27 points. Arthur Barclay scored 1,259 points during his high school career. In 2013, he was honored by being included in the South Jersey Basketball Hall of Fame.

College Basketball Career

After high school, Barclay received a scholarship to play basketball. He joined the Memphis Tigers men's basketball team at the University of Memphis. He played for three years.

During his time at Memphis, he averaged 2.6 points per game in the 2001–02 season. He averaged 2.1 points per game in both the 2003–04 and 2004–05 seasons. He earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Memphis.

After college, he worked for the Camden County Department of Events and Community Outreach. He also served as an assistant basketball coach at Camden High School.

Serving the Community

Arthur Barclay decided to enter public service. He wanted to help his hometown of Camden. He started by running for local office.

Becoming a City Council Member

In 2009, Barclay ran for a seat on the Camden City Council. He was part of a team with Mayor Angel Cordero, but they did not win.

Later, in April 2013, he was chosen by the Camden County Democratic Committee. He ran for City Council again. He won the primary election. In November 2013, he was elected to the Camden City Council. He served on the council from 2014 to 2016.

Representing New Jersey in the Assembly

Barclay was later chosen to run for the New Jersey General Assembly. This is part of the state's government. He ran with Patricia Egan Jones. They both won their elections.

As a member of the General Assembly, Barclay worked on important issues. He was appointed to two committees. These were the Higher Education Committee and the Law and Public Safety Committee.