Barbara Buono

Barbara Buono
Name	Barbara Buono
Birth date	28 November 1953
Birth place	Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Party	Democratic Party (United States)
Alma mater	Montclair State University; Rutgers University
Occupation	Politician; attorney
Office	Member of the New Jersey Senate
Term start	2002
Term end	2014

Barbara Buono

Barbara Buono (born November 28, 1953) is an American politician and attorney who served in the New Jersey Senate and New Jersey General Assembly. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), she was the Democratic nominee for Governor of New Jersey and has held leadership roles on legislative committees and within statewide public institutions. Buono's career spans law, local governance in Montville, New Jersey, and state-level policymaking in Trenton, New Jersey.

Early life and education

Buono was born in Newark, New Jersey and raised in Montville Township, New Jersey. She graduated from Montclair State University with a Bachelor of Arts and later earned a Juris Doctor from Rutgers School of Law–Newark. During her formative years she was active in community organizations in Morris County, New Jersey and established connections with regional institutions such as Saint Peter's University and the New Jersey State Bar Association through early internships and volunteer work.

Early career and local politics

After law school Buono practiced law in New Jersey and became involved in municipal affairs in Montville Township, New Jersey. She served on the Montville Board of Education and on the Montville Township Committee, working on local budgeting and municipal services in coordination with county offices in Morris County, New Jersey. Buono also engaged with civic groups tied to Rutgers University–Newark and regional nonprofits, participating in policy discussions alongside leaders from Seton Hall University and Kean University.

New Jersey Legislature

Buono was first elected to the New Jersey General Assembly and later to the New Jersey Senate, representing districts that include parts of Morris County, New Jersey and Essex County, New Jersey. In the Legislature she served as Chair of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and was a member of panels dealing with finance and oversight in Trenton, New Jersey. Buono worked alongside prominent state figures such as Jon Corzine, Chris Christie, Richard Codey, Stephen Sweeney, and Tom Kean Jr. on budget negotiations, revenue measures, and appropriations matters. She sponsored legislation addressing state fiscal policy concurrent with actions by the New Jersey Department of Treasury and interacted with agencies like the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities on regulatory and funding issues.

Her legislative tenure included collaboration with national figures and entities such as Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and the Democratic National Committee on party priorities, and coordination with advocacy organizations including AARP, National Federation of Independent Business, and League of Women Voters on constituent concerns. Buono's Senate district work connected her to municipal leaders from Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey, Morris Plains, New Jersey, and neighboring communities.

2013 gubernatorial campaign

In 2013 Buono secured the Democratic Party (United States) nomination for the 2013 New Jersey gubernatorial election, campaigning against Chris Christie, the incumbent governor. Her campaign emphasized fiscal responsibility, public employee pensions, and infrastructure investment while engaging with statewide constituencies across Hudson County, New Jersey, Bergen County, New Jersey, Camden County, New Jersey, and Essex County, New Jersey. Buono appeared at debates and forums alongside opponents and allied organizations including the Working Families Party, Laborers' International Union of North America, American Federation of Teachers, and Service Employees International Union.

The race drew attention from national media outlets and political committees such as the National Republican Senatorial Committee and political action committees supporting Governor Chris Christie. Despite endorsements from figures within the New Jersey Democratic Party and unions, Buono was defeated in the general election as Chris Christie won re-election. The campaign involved interactions with political strategists and consultants who had worked for campaigns of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Rahm Emanuel, and state-focused firms operating in Trenton, New Jersey and Newark, New Jersey.

Political positions and legislative initiatives

Buono's legislative record emphasized state budget management, consumer protection, and public sector accountability. She sponsored and supported measures related to state appropriations, revenue forecasting, and oversight mechanisms tied to the New Jersey Treasury Department and the Office of Legislative Services (New Jersey). Buono backed reforms concerning healthcare funding that intersected with programs administered by the New Jersey Department of Health and engaged with national healthcare discussions influenced by policies from the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

On ethics and transparency she advocated for stronger oversight resembling initiatives associated with ethics reforms pursued in states like New York (state) and California. Buono also addressed transportation funding linked to projects overseen by the New Jersey Transit Corporation and infrastructure priorities coordinated with the New Jersey Department of Transportation and federal entities such as the United States Department of Transportation. Her votes and sponsorships placed her in debates involving public employee pension negotiations and collective bargaining disputes that included participation from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the New Jersey Education Association.

Later career and appointments

After leaving elected office Buono took roles in nonprofit governance and was appointed to boards and commissions connected to state higher education and public service. She participated in advisory capacities working with institutions like Montclair State University, Rutgers University, and organizations such as the New Jersey Policy Perspective and the Pew Charitable Trusts on state fiscal and policy research. Buono continued to engage with civic and legal communities including the New Jersey State Bar Association, League of Women Voters, and municipal leaders from Morris County, New Jersey in public affairs and advocacy.

Category:1953 births Category:Living people Category:New Jersey state senators Category:New Jersey Democrats