In November 2001, Egan was elected to the General Assembly from the 17th District succeeding Bob Smith who was elected to the State Senate and Jerry Green who was redistricted to the 22nd District. From 2002 to 2010, Egan simultaneously held a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly and on the New Brunswick City Council. This dual position, often called double dipping, had been allowed under a grandfather clause in the state law enacted by the New Jersey Legislature and signed into law by Governor of New JerseyJon Corzine in September 2007 that prevents dual-office-holding but allows those who had held both positions as of February 1, 2008, to retain both posts.[5]
Personal life
Egan is Business Manager for the I.B.E.W. Local 456.[3] He is a former president of the union's executive board.[4] Egan continues to reside in New Brunswick. He was married to his wife Yolanda from 1959 until her death in 2019; they shared four children and seven grandchildren.[6][4][7] Egan's son Kevin succeeded him on the New Brunswick City Council after Egan retired from it in 2010.[8][9] Egan is a member of the St. Peter The Apostle Church Parish and is a former vice president of the parish council.[4] His son-in-law is Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Craig Biggio. Egan's grandson, Cavan Biggio, is a utility player for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
^O'Donnell, Chuck. "New Brunswick's Kevin Egan Sworn in During Assembly Reorganization Meeting in Trenton", TAPinto New Brunswick, January 9, 2024. Accessed January 23, 2024. "Nah, you couldn’t detect a hint of nerves in Kevin Egan’s voice as he was being sworn in by Speaker Craig Coughlin during Tuesday’s New Jersey Assembly Reorganization meeting.... Susan held a 40-year-old family Bible that Kevin’s dad, Joseph Egan, used when he was sworn in, count ‘em, 11 times. He was on his way to a 12th election victory in District 17 last year, but decided over the summer that he wanted to step away from politics at 85."
^Haydon, Tom (June 8, 2010). "New Brunswick Mayor James Cahill fends off Democratic primary challenge". NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Retrieved September 5, 2015. Egan, a union leader and president of the city parking authority, is the son of Assemblyman and long-time councilman a Joseph Egan, who did not seek re-election to the council.
^"Meet the Members". City of New Brunswick. 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2015.