Madison Democratic Committee (MDC) co-chairs, Alix Jennings and Christine Preston, announced that MDC district representatives and elected officials have voted to endorse former Madison Borough Council Member Debra Coen of Hoyt Street and current Council Member Tom Haralampoudis of Pomeroy Road for the Democratic nomination for the Madison Borough Council.
Jennings and Preston stated: “Council President Rachel Ehrlich will not be seeking a third term, and Deb will be running for the seat she is vacating. We thank Rachel for her outstanding service on the council and for her leadership on climate action in Madison.”
“It has been a great honor serving the residents of Madison,” stated Ehrlich. “The great teamwork and service of Madison volunteers at every level is extraordinary. Over the last six years, I’ve worked with over 10 volunteer committees, focusing on every topic from affordable housing to preserving our tree canopy to making our streets safer to ensuring the reliability of our utility services. The level of commitment from Madison volunteers, department heads, and the borough administration creates a virtuous cycle that engages new volunteers and attracts new ideas, ensuring Madison remains the best place to live in New Jersey.”
“The importance of good governance at the local level has never been clearer,” she continued. “Through setting goals and prudent planning, Madison is leading the way on transitioning to a clean energy future, with clean air, energy abundance, and greater comfort and convenience.”
Looking ahead, Rachel Ehrlich observed “We must continue to build on the borough’s commitment to a safe, healthy, and resilient community for future generations of Madisonians while continuing to deliver the services and reliability that our residents count on.”
Debra Coen, who resigned from her seat in 2023 for personal reasons, will be running for a third term on the Madison Borough Council. Tom Haralampoudis is seeking a second term.
The two are running together with the slogan: “Your Voice, Our Commitment – Partnering for a Better Madison.”
“Deb and I worked well together at the start of my council term finalizing the Dodge Field playground and Walnut Street affordable housing projects,” stated Haralampoudis. “Thanks to her we now have a beautiful, all-inclusive playground in the center of town. Deb first suggested we do the redesign and pushed hard for its approval. She then led the two-year process that finally brought it all to fruition.”
Coen added: “The playground renovation, which provides an accessible recreation space for all Madisonians, was funded entirely by state and county grant money. It was constructed at no additional cost to Madison taxpayers.”
Prior to serving on the borough council, Debra Coen spent many years as a volunteer in the school system – from serving on various PTA boards or chairs of events, to serving on the Madison Board of Education. She 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 her two council terms, Coen served as the Finance and Borough Clerk liaison, Health Department liaison, and was on the Shared Services Committee. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Behavior Studies from Drew University and a Master’s degree in Technology Education from Montclair University.
Tom Haralampoudis has resided in Madison for 33 years and holds the view that “mere residency does not suffice. We should all be active contributors to the life of the community. I have volunteered through my entire life – scouting, working with outreach groups like the Morristown community soup kitchen, Interfaith food pantry and numerous functions with our Greek Church.”
While on council, Tom Haralampoudis served as liaison for the Electric Utility Committee, the Madison Board of Health, and Madison Board of Education.
Previously, he served on the Madison Public Library Board of Trustees, the Madison Board of Health, and the board of HQM, Inc. (formerly the Madison Housing Corporation). He was also president of the Madison Junior School Sports Program, a past chairman of the Madison Environmental Commission, served four years on the Madison Board of Education, and was a co-founder of the Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee.
Together with his brother, Tom Haralmapoudis runs a family business, Lanca Sales, an export company that sells primarily U.S. manufactured foodservice disposables and janitorial products to 70 countries. He has a BA in Economics and an MBA in Marketing and Business Management and is a co-owner of Madison’s popular Bottle Hill Tavern.
Haralampoudis observed: “Deb and I share a love for Madison, an optimism for the future, and the passion and commitment to do the hard work it takes to keep Madison moving forward. We both were volunteers for many years before serving on Council, and we take seriously our responsibilities to serve the Madison community.”
Debra Coen concluded: “Tom and I look forward to sharing our vision for Madison with voters and hope everyone will bring their concerns and ideas to us so we can fully represent their priorities and bring their voices to the table. Madison is a community of people who care, and we appreciate everyone’s support.”
Learn more about the candidates by reading the statements for Deb Coen and Tom Haralampoudis.