William M. Clay has been an Albany County Legislator since 2004, representing residents of the 13th Legislative District and since the 2010 re-districting, he represents the 12th Legislative District.

Bill currently serves as Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus and Chair of the Albany County Industrial Development Agency.

Bill has supported legislation to secure Homeland Security grants to give police, firefighters and medical personnel the communications technology they need to respond effectively to terrorist threats as well as day-to-day emergencies. He sponsored legislation to establish an integrated domestic violence court in Albany, urged state approval for an increase in New York's minimum wage and supported improvements to maintain the Pepsi Arena as a first-class facility attracting high-caliber entertainment and sporting events.

Bill served as Assistant Commissioner of the New York State Office of General Services in charge of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises and community relations. He rejoined the agency in 2007 after serving nearly 15 years as president of his own private investigation and security firm, which he formed in 1993 after 29 years with the State OGS. He first joined OGS in 1964 as a Capital Police Officer and rose through the ranks to become Captain in 1989. From 1981-1992, he served as Director of the MWBE program for OGS while on leave from his Capital Police assignments.

He was elected Treasurer of Council #82, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and local union President, serving in both positions from 1969-1980. He also was elected to the Board of Directors and Treasurer of the Capital District Minority Contractors Association and to the Albany County Democratic Committee.

Bill has won numerous awards throughout the years for his work to promote minority and women-owned business development and was a member of the NYS Security Guard Advisory Council, Associated Licensed Detectives of NYS, Inc., NAACP Albany branch and 100 Black Men, Inc. of the Capitol Region. He served as a member of the Board of Deacons for the Metropolitan New Testament Missionary Baptist Church of Albany and President of the Board of Directors of Drake Manor Senior Housing. He is the Director of Facilities Management for the Metropolitan Baptist Church.

Bill attended Hudson Valley Community College, Cornell University, State University of New York at Albany, Empire State College and Rensselaer Polytechnic to study business and financial administration and labor relations.