Democratic Candidate for Governor
Barbara Buono Speaks to Council Delegates
Friday, April 5, 2013

At the April 5, 2013 Council meeting, the Executive Committee, assembled delegates and Council staff had the opportunity to get to know State Senator Barbara Buono, Democratic candidate for Governor. The Council had endorsed her at its February 15, 2013 meeting.

Senator Buono has a solid record of supporting public employees and public higher education throughout her legislative career. She opposed the attack on collective bargaining rights that resulted in the Legislature’s imposition of up to a 35% health insurance premium co-pay on all state employees, and paid the price by losing her position as Democratic Majority Leader. That has not deterred her from pursuing a progressive legislative agenda.

Buono gave an impassioned talk about her personal journey. She spoke of her roots growing up in Nutley as the daughter of struggling Italian immigrants, putting herself through Montclair State College (now University) by working three part-time jobs in combination with state tuition assistance, graduating from Rutgers Law School, and embarking on a career of public service. She emphasized the woeful lack of State funding for New Jersey public higher education in the past decade. Her speech was frequently interrupted with enthusiastic applause.

Prior to her speech, she circulated among the delegates and was introduced to each local's members. She also engaged in discussions with individual delegates and found many experiences in common.

Barbara Buono re-enforced her position as a fighter for the working poor and middle-class, and against regressive cuts in social services and tax policies that favor the privileged. She demonstrated that she has not forgotten where she came from in life. She ‘gets’ the importance of government policies that promote the common good and help build communities based on civic cooperation. More than any other gubernatorial candidate in recent memory, she is the ‘real deal’ when it comes to understanding the social crises faced by working people, including public employees and educators

At the conclusion of her remarks, Council delegates gave the next Governor of New Jersey resounding applause and a standing ovation.

 

 

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