Bridgeville veteran of Iraq War seeks nomination in 37th Senatorial
Devlin Robinson of Bridgeville Wednesday announced his candidacy for the Republican Party nominating convention in a bid to fill the unexpired term of state Sen. Guy Reschenthaler, who was elected earlier this month to Congress.
Robinson, 35, of Bridgeville, is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who founded a medical supply firm, Veterans Medical Technology.
Reschenthaler, a lawyer, served in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General Corps during the Iraq War. He must resign his state Senate seat before taking the oath as a U.S. representative, paving the way for a special election, the date of which has not been scheduled.
“We recaptured this seat three years ago with a veteran who was a fresh face on the political scene,” Robinson said in a news release. “I think that formula is essential if the GOP is going to hold onto the 37th District.
“Both my military and business backgrounds have taught me to be a problem-solver, someone who understands that building our region’s economy is the only practical and meaningful way to create sustainable growth.”
Robinson served three combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, where he participated in the battles of Nasiriyah and Fallujah.
He holds a business degree from Robert Morris University and a master’s of business administration degree from University of Pittsburgh’s Katz School of Business.
Active in Republican politics, Robinson managed the 2014 re-election campaign of U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, who ran unopposed. He also worked to elect Reschenthaler to Congress and Natalie Mihalek and Mike Puskaric to the state House, and on the re-elections of state Reps. Jason Ortitay and Tim O’Neal and state Sen. Camera Bartolotta.
As vice president of the board of directors of Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard, a re-entry program for returning veterans, Robinson was featured in a WQED television documentary titled, “… After War.”
His other volunteer work includes serving as a mentor for Semper Fi Odyssey in Somerset County, the Bridgeville Rotary, and his local chapter of Ancient Order of Hibernians.
He spoke at the 100th Armistice Day anniversary ceremony in Upper St. Clair and attends St. Barbara Church, Bridgeville.
The 37th State Senate District comprises the South Hills and airport-area suburbs of Allegheny County, plus Peters Township in Washington County.
D. Raja of Mt. Lebanon also has announced a bid to seek the Republican nomination as a candidate in the special election.