Buono's Campaign Defends Milly Silva's Voting Record

Campaign staffers for state Sen. Barbara Buono on Tuesday defended the voting record of Milly Silva, Buono’s pick for lieutenant governor, after reports surfaced that suggest Silva’s participation in the democratic process is spotty.

Politickernj.com reported Monday, hours after Buono introduced Silva as her running mate, that Silva’s voting record is sporadic, citing that voting records indicate that the labor leader did not vote in the election that put Chris Christie and Kim Guadagno into office.

The Buono campaign on Tuesday admitted that Silva did not vote in some elections, but said the SIEU 1199 executive vice president was unable to vote because she was too busy helping others get to the polls.

"Every election day, Milly Silva dedicates long hours to helping thousands of New Jerseyans get to the polls,’’ said David Turner, Buono spokesman. “There have been a couple of days when she was unable to cast her vote before the polls closed because she was arranging transportation for the poor, elderly and disabled who would have been unable to make it to their polling location on their own." 

The politics news website reported that Silva did not vote in a primary election until last year, did not vote in the last three legislative elections and failed to vote in the election that made Christie governor.

Kevin Roberts, a spokesman for Christie, has said Buono choice in running mate was a blunder.

"For the most important decision Barbara Buono will make as a candidate, she has chosen an activist from a well-funded labor union who is wholly unqualified with no experience in government or public service,” Roberts said. “Most importantly, this pick shows the desperate lengths Barbara Buono will go to in order to prop up her flailing campaign with special interest support.”