High-Ranking Democrat Craig Coughlin Very Connected To The Running Of Woodbridge Twp.

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — One of the highest-ranking Democrats in the state, Craig Coughlin, is very connected to the running of Woodbridge Township.

And this Tuesday, his son and two top aides are asking voters to keep it that way.

Coughlin's own son, Vincent Coughlin, and his chief of staff Dan Harris and deputy chief of staff Stephen Lally were all appointed earlier this to year to either the Woodbridge town council or school board.

All three are now seeking re-election. Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 4.

"It's not fair to anyone," said Marilyn Colon, a Republican running against Coughlin, of his multiple connections to Woodbridge town government. "His son is on the school board. His chief of staff is a Councilman at large. Do residents know this? Are they aware? No."

"He's the Assembly person; he's also the Assembly speaker. He has a law firm in Iselin and he receives contracts from Woodbridge. He gets paid very well, too, $190 an hour," said Colon. "Government is supposed to be a system of checks and balances. I've never been able to get a meeting with Coughlin, and I've spoken with other Woodbridge residents who say the same. Is he representing us or is he representing himself?"

Coughlin lives in Woodbridge and is currently speaker of the New Jersey Assembly.

Coughlin is also one of the lawyers for the Woodbridge town Council, a rate of $190/hour, according to his 2025 contract. As such, Coughlin attends all Woodbridge Council meetings and he advises the Council and town on legal matters. He also gives legal advice to Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac; the two are political allies.

Coughlin's longtime chief of staff, Harris, used to sit on the Woodbridge school board. Earlier this year, the all-Democrat Woodbridge town council decided to appoint Harris to fill a vacant Woodbridge Council-at-large seat.

When Coughlin's chief of staff quit the BOE — as it is illegal for him to hold two elected offices at once — the Woodbridge school board voted to appoint his son, Vincent, to the empty seat.

That was earlier this year. Vincent Coughlin is now asking voters to elect him to that seat. He has no challengers.

But Coughlin's connection to the Woodbridge school board does not end there: Earlier this year, the school board also appointed Lally, his deputy chief of staff, to fill another vacant seat. Lally is also asking the people of Woodbridge to vote to keep him in the seat; he is challenged by Tom Maras.

Coughlin himself is up for re-election on Nov. 4. He did not respond for this article.

Coughlin also works as the lawyer for Woodbridge's Rent Leveling Board (a $4,000-a-year contract) and is Woodbridge's insurance commission attorney (at a rate of $165 per hour). Coughlin's law firm, Rainone Coughlin Minchello, signed separate contracts with Woodbridge Twp. for all three jobs.

Colon last challenged Couglin in 2023 for the 19th district Assembly seat, and lost.

Meet Stephan Lally, Running For Re-Election To Woodbridge School Board

Meet Dan Harris, Running For Woodbridge Council At Large