John Robitaille

Robitaille served the United States Army as an officer from 1970-1976. He was recognized for distinguished performance as the most outstanding second lieutenant commissioned in the US Army through the ROTC program nationally. He was a paratrooper where he served in Germany with the First Armored Division and later with Headquarters Special Forces Command at Ft. Bragg where he was promoted to the rank of captain.[4]

After his time in the military, Robitaille worked in labor and employee relations. From 1976-1981 Robitaille worked as an Employee Relations Manager for Frito Lay. From 1981-1986 he worked as an Area Manager in Labor Relations for Continental Can Company. He would later work in public relations and communications from 1985 to 1987, as a General Manager for Total Communications. In April 1987, Robitaille founded his own small business. He was the President and CEO of Perspective Communications Group in Middletown, Rhode Island.[4] In 2008 Robitaille left the company to work for Rhode Island governor, Donald Carcieri where he served as his Senior Advisor of Communications.[5][6]

Robitaille with Michael Steele in 2010

Robitaille first became involved in Rhode Island electoral politics in 2006 when he ran for State Representative but lost by four votes to Amy Rice (D-RI). In December 2009, Robitaille announced his decision to run for Rhode Island governor as a Republican. He resigned from his position as Senior Advisor of Communications for Governor Carcieri in order to campaign full-time.[7]

Robitaille initially polled in single digits compared to Democratic nominee Frank Caprio and Republican-turned-Independent candidate Lincoln Chafee, but managed to take a lead over Caprio and come within the margin of error to Chafee.[8] Chafee won the election, with 36% of the vote to Robitaille's 34% and Caprio's 23%.[9]