Lawyer for Barbara Buono calls reprimand ‘misguided’

TRENTON The attorney for Barbara Buono, a former state senator and Democratic candidate for governor, is criticizing a state commission’s decision to reprimand her.

Attorney Angelo Genova says the Election Law Enforcement Commission’s pursuit of violations against Buono was “curious and misguided.”

The commission announced Wednesday a reprimand and $1,600 fine of Buono. They stem from an investigation that found she used her senatorial account to pay for polling of prospective voters about the governor’s race before she established her gubernatorial account.

Genova says Buono complied immediately when directed to pay for the poll.

He also says Buono has tried to be transparent throughout two decades of public service, and the reprimand over a “technical and minor” violation does not change that.

Gov. Chris Christie defeated Buono in 2013.