Breaking a much speculated eight-to-eight tie, Republican state Rep. F. Jay Barrows said Monday that he will support Brad Jones' effort to retain his post as House minority leader.

With Barrows' support, Jones, of North Reading, has secured nine votes in the 16-member caucus, enough to stay on as minority leader. Jones is being challenged by Holden state Rep. Lewis Evangelidis.

"I have a lot of respect for both Rep. Jones and Rep. Evangelidis," Barrows said in a statement. "While I believe that our caucus and our state party are greatly in need of new direction, I do not believe that all new faces are the immediate answer."

Barrows called on Jones and Evangelidis to work together in the next session.

"I do urge Rep. Jones to call on Rep. Evangelidis and others in the caucus to play a greater role in communicating our message and defining the role of Republicans on Beacon Hill," he said. "Only through a united caucus will  Republicans be able to focus on serving as the fiscal watchdog that state government so desperately needs right now."

Barrow noted that the GOP caucus was disappointed with this year's election, in which it lost three seats in the House. But, he said, the caucus can't move forward as long as it is divided.

"No Republican is happy with our electoral results," Barrows said. "However, our caucus is too small to be split amongst ourselves in the press and I felt the need to end the infighting."