In 1977 he began working as the Safety Inspector for the New Jersey Highway Authority, serving in that capacity for ten years until he was selected to head the directorship of the Heritage Festivals at the Garden State Arts Center.
While serving on the council Eagler became a rising star in the county Democratic Party, and in 1995 was nominated with Harry Lashley to run against incumbent Republican Freeholders Walter Porter and Jack O'Brien, whom they were unsuccessful in unseating.
However, in 1996, Eagler and Georgia Scott succeeded in their efforts, unseating incumbent Charles Delahanty and picking up an open seat left when Richard DuHaime decided to run for the United States Senate.
Thanks to redistricting from the 2000 census, Clifton, which had for years been linked with several Republican-leaning towns and cities, was paired with many Democratic strongholds in Essex County.
Due in large part to that Eagler, Edwards, and State Senator Nia Gill swept the incumbent Republicans out of office.
This enabled Eagler, with his seat on the Clifton council and the Passaic County Freeholder Board, to hold three offices simultaneously.