Mayor &
City Council
The City operates under the New Jersey Municipal Manager Law of 1923. This form of government separates policy making (the work of the Mayor and City Council) from the execution of policy (the work of the City Manager). This maintains professional management and a City-wide perspective through: nonpartisan election, at large representation, concentration of executive responsibility in the hands of a professional manager accountable to the Mayor and Council, concentration of policy making power in one body – a five-person Mayor and Council.
Mayor
Caseen Gaines
Caseen Gaines is a lifelong Hackensack resident who has dedicated himself to the City of Hackensack as an educator in our public schools for nearly two decades. He is a labor union leader, an internationally-celebrated author, and a dedicated public servant. His service extends to his past roles as a liaison to the City’s Library Board, a member of the Cultural Arts Board, and co-founder of the City's resident theater company.
Agatha Toomey, a small business owner and Hackensack resident for nearly six decades, served almost forty years in the City’s Human Services Department. For most of that time she was director of the department, overseeing crucial programs and shaping social service policy. She has led the Bergen/Hudson Municipal Welfare Directors Association, advocating for compassionate regional social services. Toomey is an active member of Hackensack UNICO, the country’s largest Italian American service organization.
Deputy Mayor
Agatha Toomey
Councilman
Roberto Diaz
Roberto Diaz has a strong background in education and financial administration. He is an adjunct professor and former Associate Director at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he champions student success and expanding their local programming to the diverse population of Hackensack and its surrounding areas. Diaz is passionate about strengthening organizational efficiency within the City and better connecting residents across all our neighborhoods.
Philip Carroll, a Hackensack resident for nearly fifty years, dedicated nearly thirty years to the Hackensack Police Department, where he was an integral part of our City’s community policing programs. Carroll also previously served as a Trustee on the Hackensack Board of Education. His commitment extends to numerous community organizations, including Holy Trinity Church, the Elks, Knights of Columbus, and Moose Lodge.
Councilman
Philip Carroll
Councilwoman
Sonya Clark-Collins
Sonya Clark-Collins, a lifelong Hackensack resident, brings valuable administrative and IT expertise to City Hall. She is a dedicated public servant and community advocate who has championed the need for affordable housing and stronger tenants’ rights. She has volunteered her time as a member of The WorkGroup of Hackensack, and is an active member of St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church, where she serves as treasurer.
