[3] After graduating, Gitz worked in the 1972 George McGovern presidential campaign, and was executive director of the Association of Illinois Student Governments.
[3] In 1978, Gitz ran on a platform that included support for the Equal Rights Amendment, giving a tax break on inheritance of family farms, overhauling the road fund to improve the downstate road system and restoring confidence in government.
[14][15] In 2001 he was appointed to the Illinois Municipal league board of directors where he served until he was defeated in a bid for re-election as Mayor of Freeport in 2005.
[17] After eight years out of office, Gitz chose to run and in February 2013, he defeated his successor and incumbent mayor George Gaulrapp in the primary for the Citizen's Party.
In April, he was elected Mayor of Freeport against People's Party candidate Jon Staben by 71 votes.