Richard Ames was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick on September 14, 2020 for the electoral district of Carleton-York. 

Richard was born in Fredericton to Ronald and Patricia Ames. He has deep roots in the riding and lived most of his life in Mactaquac inside the riding of Carleton-York.

His grandfather Harry Ames emigrated as a 9-year-old boy from England to seek a better life in New Brunswick. Harry had earned the confidence of the constituents of the riding to earn him 6 consecutive terms as the Progressive Conservative MLA for York County.

Richard has been selected to sit on several Legislature Standing Committees such as Economic Policy, Legislative Administration, Procedure, Privileges and Legislative Officers, Public Accounts, Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Private Bills, Vice-Chair of Estimates and Fiscal Policy. 

Richard was Government Whip before being appointed to Cabinet in 2023 as Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

Richard is married with two grown children and they live on the land that his grandfather once farmed.