Deborah Villio was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, October 9, 1961. She lives in Kenner, Louisiana and is a life-long resident of Jefferson Parish. Ms. Villio has 23 years of experience in the Greater New Orleans area in government work and litigation. She has a wide range of practice including public sector liability, zoning and land use, commercial transactions, medical malpractice and criminal defense. She began her career as a prosecutor in New Orleans in 1989 and spent the following 10 years prosecuting in New Orleans, St. Tammany and Jefferson Parishes. She was recognized by Victims and Citizens Against Crimes as an Outstanding Prosecutor. Ms. Villio also served as Criminal Justice Director for Jefferson Parish from 1999 to 2007 where she directed all criminal justice operations in Jefferson Parish (both adult and juvenile). During that time she served as the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Planning and Action Commission's District Manager and was chairperson of the Jefferson Parish Children and Youth Planning Board, chairperson of the Jefferson Parish Truancy Assessment Center Advisory Board, and chairperson of the Jefferson Parish Crime Prevention and Reduction Task Force. Ms. Villio's governmental work has also included her leadership in the regulatory division having served for two years as the Director of Inspection and Code Enforcement in Jefferson Parish from 2008-2010. She was responsible for both the regulatory and property maintenance divisions of that department overseeing the issuance of permits for all new commercial and residential construction, as well as commercial and residential renovations, and the enforcement of zoning and use ordinances. In addition to her role in governmental activities, Ms. Villio is known for her civic and community involvement. She is a graduate of Leadership Jefferson 2012. She currently serves as a member of the City of Kenner Code Enforcement Advisory Board. She also serves on the Advisory Board for Archbishop Chapelle High School. Previously, she has served on the Board of Children's Bureau as its 1st Vice Chairman, a local non-profit organization that helps needy children throughout the metropolitan area who are witnesses to or victims of violent crime; the Jefferson EDGE 2020 Fat City Redevelopment Committee; and the Jefferson Parish Drug Court Advisory Board, as well as volunteered her services in conducting law enforcement training in the law for local police academy classes. She has also volunteered her services as an administrative hearing officer for the City of New Orleans.
