Mayor of Montgomery Township. Owner of High Impact Advisors LLC, an executive and leadership coaching boutique. Prior to founding High Impact Advisors, she was a corporate vice-president with New York Life company.
Brandeis University,
Bachelors (Anthropology/ Archaeology). She also completed graduate work in archaeology and forensic anthropology at the University
of Connecticut.
Spouse: Sergey Gershtein, head of advanced research & development for Ortho Clinical Diagnostics. Children: Max.
Devra Keenan, 56, was elected to the Montgomery Township Committee in 2020. She has lived
in the township for 24 years and is currently in her second term as mayor. She also serves on the Montgomery Planning Board, the Environmental Commission, the Budget & Finance, Agricultural Advisory, Shade Tree, and Wildlife Management committees.
As mayor, Keenan says she has promoted what she sees as the top three issues in Montgomery
Township.
Becoming mayor during the COVID-19 pandemic, she says her focus has been on keeping folks well-informed and safe. She did this by overseeing the launch of a new municipal website, quarterly print newsletters and weekly ebulletins, as well as implementing a robust vaccination strategy and on-site testing that have continued to save lives and help ensure Montgomery continues to thrive, she says.
While Keenan was mayor, she says the township oversaw the lowest municipal tax increase in more than 15 years and earned the coveted Triple A (AAA bond rating).
Keenan says she was a tireless advocate for the environment. Under her leadership Montgomery Township earned a Silver Certificate from Sustainable Jersey; created a division of Land Stewardship and Environmental Sustainability; a Parks and Recreation Department, and passed numerous important and critical ordinances (Stormwater Management, and Electric Vehicle Charging to name a few) to help address flooding and to build a green infrastructure.
Commitment to the Community. Locally Keenan says she has been recognized for her commitment to the community with the 2021-2022 Elks Citizen of the Year Award. She was also recognized by Montgomery EMS for her advocacy and support.
I am running as a Democrat because of my values. I believe a responsive government is part of the solution — not the problem. I believe in science. I believe that putting a mask on to protect others is
the moral thing to do.
I believe everyone should be treated equally irrespective of gender, race, nationality, sexual orientation, or secular or religious beliefs and we should fight to ever expand equality, not shrink it.
I am very proud of what we have accomplished under my leadership as mayor but there is more to be done.
To serve as a Township Committee Member, and to do it well, takes curiosity, time, dedication, compassion, and the fortitude to ask hard questions and the ability to make tough decisions.
I have demonstrated that I have what it takes and it would be my honor to continue to serve my community in this capacity. ■
