About Senator Barbara Buono
When you learn about where Senator Barbara Buono comes from, you understand why she fights so hard for middle-class families – especially those being hurt by regressive policies in these tough economic times.
Barbara Buono was born in Newark, the youngest of three sisters. She grew up in Nutley - where her mother worked in an office and as a substitute teacher and her father, born in Italy, worked as a butcher. During her freshman year at Montclair State College, Barbara’s father suddenly passed away from a heart attack. So, she had to put herself through college - financing the remaining three years with tuition assistance grants, Veterans’ and Social Security death benefits, and part-time jobs at a dog kennel and in various retail positions. In 1975, Buono graduated with a B.A. She then worked three jobs – in the Montclair Public Library, as a per diem reporter for the Star-Ledger and in the Essex County Probation Department - and took out two loans to attend Rutgers Law School, where she received her J.D. in 1979.
It is this story of personal struggle and tenacity that shows how Barbara Buono understands the important role of relying on yourself. But, she also appreciates the role government can play in helping during difficult times. After graduating from law school, Buono served as a judicial law clerk and as a public defender for the New Jersey State Department of the Public Advocate. Following her time there, she entered private practice.
In 1992, Buono won a seat on the Metuchen Council, where she stabilized tax rates without lowering the quality and availability of local services. As the Metuchen Police Commissioner, Buono worked to increase safety in suburban neighborhoods by instituting a community policing program.
As New Jersey’s first woman to be New Jersey’s Senate Majority Leader, Barbara Buono was proud to break barriers. She is also the first woman to chair the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, where she established a reputation as a consensus-builder during the state’s challenging fiscal times. Today, she believes in inspiring a new generation of leaders committed to the values of public service. That’s why she launched the Young Women's Leadership Program – a seminar engaging high school junior and seniors in the political process.
During the two years Senator Buono served as budget chair, New Jersey’s budget grew smaller, not bigger. She cut $4.5 billion for the state budget while increasing funds for schools and health care. Buono also sponsored a constitutional amendment to give voters a direct say on state debt. She currently serves as a member of the Health, Human Services & Senior Citizens Committee, the State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee and Vice-Chair of the Legislative Oversight Committee. While serving as Chair of the Legislative Oversight Committee, Buono led hearings on transparency at the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, as well as the investigation into the administration’s bungling of the Race to the Top application - which cost the state’s children $400 million in federal education funding.
With far too many public officials looking out for corporate interests and multi-millionaires, Senator Buono instead remains focused on strengthening New Jersey’s middle-class and looking out for our families. She’s working to create jobs, protect workers and make our schools work better. Buono believes we need to fight for those on Main Street, so they get the same advantages afforded the politically connected on Wall Street. She consistently fights for New Jersey’s environment, and stands up to attempts to scale back regulation that would put our land, air and water in harm’s way.
First elected to the New Jersey State Senate in 2001, Barbara Buono was once again overwhelmingly re-elected in November 2011 – despite the race being targeted by Trenton Republicans. She is proud to represent the 18th Legislative District – which includes East Brunswick, Edison, Helmetta, Metuchen, South Plainfield, South River and Highland Park. Previously, Buono served as a member of the General Assembly for seven years after winning a special election in December 1994 and was reelected in 1995, 1997 and 1999. In the Assembly, Buono became the ranking Democrat on the Budget Committee. She is a founding member of the NJ Smart Growth Caucus and was appointed to the Intergovernmental Relations Commission.
Today, Barbara lives in Metuchen with her husband Dr. Martin Gizzi. She has four children – Sarah, Allegra, Lance and Tessa – and two step-daughters, Ariella and Sofia.
It’s her own New Jersey story that’s formed Senator Buono’s strong progressive values. It’s what consistently drives her record of putting people first throughout her tenure in the state legislature. And that’s why Buono is continuing to change the old rules to even out the odds so middle-class families can get ahead.
Awards
outstanding dedication and continuous support to the communities, from NJ YMCA State Alliance in October 2011
Barbara's Blog
Gov. Christie's 'Jersey Comeback' Ignores Economic Security for Middle-Class Families
January 25, 2012
Nobody likes to highlight their own failures. So it’s no wonder in his second State of the State Address, Governor Christie did not even touch on the issue of economic security. While most of New Jersey families scrape by paycheck to paycheck, the central message of Chris Christie’s vision for our state is that we’re in “comeback” mode.
Despite the fact that poll after poll still indicates the overriding concern of the public is the economy, the Governor’s message relied heavily on platitudes and empty rhetoric, leaving any reference to bolstering the livelihoods of middle and low income families on the cutting room floor.
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