Full Name:
Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr.
Gender:
Male
Family:
Wife: Anita; 2 Children: Heather, Tara
Birth Date:
03/19/1949
Birth Place:
South Plainfield, NJ
Home City:
South Plainfield, NJ
Religion:
Catholic
JD, Seton Hall University School of Law, 1973
BA, Government and Political Science, Seton Hall University, 1970
Senator, New Jersey State Senate, District 18, 2016-present
Candidate, New Jersey Senate, District 18, 2023
Deputy Speaker, New Jersey State Assembly, 2008-2016
Parliamentarian, New Jersey State Assembly, 2006-2016
Assembly Member, New Jersey State General Assembly, 2002-2016
Member, Budget and Appropriations Committee
Member, Select Committee on New Jersey Transit
Chair, Transportation Committee
Former Member, Joint Committee on the Public Schools, New Jersey State General Assembly
Former Vice Chair, Law and Public Safety Committee, New Jersey State Senate
Former Member, State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee, New Jersey State Senate
Member, South Plainfield Environmental Commission, 1978
Member, South Plainfield Senior Citizens Advisory Committee, 1977
Municipal Attorney, Borough of Milltow, present
Municipal Attorney, Borough of South Plainfield, present
Instructor of Law, Middlesex County College, 1974-1983
President, Sacred Heart Parish Council, 1977-1980
Member, South Plainfield Board of Adjustment, 1974-1975
Awards:
Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Irishman of the Year, 2007 Honors
ArtPride NJ Distinguished Arts Advocate Award, 2008
New Jersey Council of County Colleges, Legislative Excellence Award, 2008
Friend of the YMCA Award, 2010
Athletic Trainers' Society of New Jersey Presidential Award, 2011
Roscommon Society of New York -- Roscommon Man of the Year, 2011
AFL-CIO Labor Council Hubert H. Humphrey Friend of Labor Award, 2012
Peace Island Institute Education Award, 2012
Middlesex County Good Scout Award, 2013
Middlesex County Education Association Friend of Education Award, 2013
New Jersey Family Collaborative Law Award, 2014
New Jersey Retail Merchants Association Legislator of the Year, 2015
Association of Schools and Agencies for the Handicapped Legislator of the Year, 2015
New Jersey Police Officers Brotherhood, Legislative Support Award, 2015
Favorite Quote:
"When power leads man towards arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses." JFK
"If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter." MLK
Favorite TV Shows:
The Good Wife
Favorite Type of Music:
Jersey Boys
Names of Grandchildren:
Vanessa, Alexa, Brooke
Number of Grandchildren:
3