Councilwoman

Deborah Keeling-Geddis

Deborah Keeling-Geddis was born and raised in Hackensack and attended the city’s public school system, graduating from Hackensack  High School in 1978.  She is the daughter of Magdalene and the late Rev. Benjamin Keeling.

After graduating Hackensack High School, Deborah attended Berkeley College earning an Associate's Degree in marketing and management and earned credits toward a degree in education from City College of New York and New Jersey City University. She is currently employed by the Hackensack Board of Education as a Para-educator in the Special Services department.

Elected to the Hackensack City Council in 2015, Deborah has been involved in Hackensack political movements since 2001, fighting to improve the city for residents, especially children. She served on the PTA boards for Fairmount and Hackensack High School and served as a union  para-representative  for the High School. Deborah helped form Hackensack Parents. “Hackensack Parents for Student Achievement,” which advocated for more accountability and transparency from the city’s school board.

In 2013 Deborah was instrumental in arranging the appointment of the city’s first African- American Public Defender and broadening the diversity of the city’s boards.

A member of the Church of God and Saints of Christ in Plainfield, NJ, she is the Chair of Trustees for her congregation. She also serves as a member of the George M. Stuart Music Scholarship Committee.

Deborah and her husband Victor have a son Joshua.