Career
He represented the district of Bonavista South from 1993 to 2011 and served as Speaker of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly. Before entering politics, he worked as a journeyman electrician. Fitzgerald served as mayor of Musgravetown.
Fitzgerald ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Newfoundland assembly in 1989, losing to Aubrey Gover.
He was elected in 1993 and was reelected in 1996, 1999 and 2003. He was acclaimed in the 2007 Newfoundland and Labrador general election when his opponent withdrew from the race.
In June 2011, he announced that he would not be running for reelection.