MADISON – In a joint statement, Councilwoman Debra Coen of Hoyt Street and Board of Health President Eric Range of Belleau Avenue urge all Madison Democrats to vote in the June 8 primary election. Coen and Range are running in a contested primary for the two seats on the Borough Council that are up for election in November. Coen is running for reelection in 2021, and Range is running for his first term on Council.

The candidates noted that no Republican has filed for the election.  “Therefore, the decision as to who will represent Madison voters on Council for the next three years will likely be settled on June 8,” said Coen and Range.  

“We should remember that local level government is important to all of us.  The services we receive from our municipal government – police and fire protection, electric, water, and health services, leaf, trash, and recyclable collections, snow removal, our library, playgrounds, parks and fields – touch our lives every day.  If residents want to have a say about the municipal taxes they pay and the services they receive, they need to cast their vote in the primary.”

“And because 2021 is an ‘off-year’ election, we can expect voter turnout to be light; consequently, each individual’s vote has a greater impact on the results,” added Councilwoman Coen.   

Unlike in 2020, the 2021 primary will be a traditional primary election.  Voters who have not requested a mail-in ballot for the primary must vote in-person at their assigned polling location on Election Day. 

By state law, only registered Democrats can vote in the Democratic primary.   Unaffiliated registered voters can vote in the primary by requesting a Political Party Affiliation Declaration Form from the poll workers, which they will then need to complete before they vote.   

“Hopefully, voters will consider our experience and records of service to the community and will vote for my running mate Eric Range and me,” stated Ms. Coen.  

“Prior to serving on Council, I spent many years as a volunteer in the school system – from serving on various PTA boards or chairs of events, to serving a three-year term on the Madison Board of Education.  I also volunteered as the registrar and treasurer for the Madison Soccer Club and was a parent participant on the Madison Public Schools Technology Advisory Committee.  During my first two years on Council, I worked closely with Eric, serving as Council Liaison to the Health Department.”

Candidate Range stated: “I have been a member of the Madison Board of Health for the past 6 years and its president since 2017.  

In addition, I have served 16 years on the Downtown Development Commission (DDC).  During my tenure on the DDC, I have served as Commission Chairman, as well as stints chairing numerous sub-committees including the Taste of Madison, Marketing and Economic Development, Parking, Sign & Façade and others. 

I am also a founding trustee of the Madison Main Street Foundation, a 501(c) (3) sister organization to the DDC.  Together the two organizations raised over $192,000 for COVID-19 Relief Grants to Madison businesses impacted by pandemic.”  

In conclusion, the candidates stated: “Together, we will bring our decades of dedication, knowledge, and experience to borough government. There is much good work that needs to be done, as we all work as a community to move forward from the devastation of Covid-19.  We hope that all Madison Democrats will come out on June 8^th and vote for our team.”

For more information on voting in the June 8^th primary, please visit www.madisonnjdems.com/vote.  Voters can learn more about Eric and Deb on the website, or email coenrange@gmail.com for any questions.