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| Bill Gunter | |
|---|---|
 Gunter in 1969 | |
| 21st Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Fire Marshal of Florida | |
| In office November 9, 1976 – January 3, 1989 | |
| Governor | Reubin Askew Bob Graham Wayne Mixson Bob Martinez |
| Preceded by | Philip F. Ashler |
| Succeeded by | Tom Gallagher |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 5th district | |
| In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1975 | |
| Preceded by | New Constituency (Redistricting) |
| Succeeded by | Richard Kelly |
| Member of the Florida Senate from the 18th district | |
| In office November 8, 1966 – November 7, 1972 | |
| Preceded by | John E. Mathews Jr. |
| Succeeded by | John T. Ware |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Dawson Gunter Jr. (1934-07-16)July 16, 1934 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | April 8, 2024(2024-04-08) (aged 89) Tallahassee, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | University of Florida (BSA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1957-1958 |
William Dawson Gunter Jr. (July 16, 1934 – April 8, 2024) was an American politician from the state of Florida. From 1974 to 1975, he served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He then served 12 years in statewide elected office as Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Fire Marshal of Florida.
Early life and education
Gunter was born in Jacksonville in 1934. He attended public schools in Live Oak and received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (B.S.A.) from the University of Florida in 1956. While a student at Florida, he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity (Florida Upsilon chapter). Gunter briefly attended the University of Georgia in 1957 and served in the United States Army from 1957 to 1958.
Political career
Gunter was a member of the Florida State Senate in 1966. He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives as the first member from Florida's 5th congressional district, a newly created district in the Orlando area, in the 1972 election. He only served a single term. His voting record in the 93rd Congress was generally moderate.
Senate campaigns
Gunter unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in 1974, but lost the primary to Richard Stone. He was elected Florida State Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner in 1976 and served in this post until 1988.
In 1980, Gunter ran again for the U.S. Senate, defeating incumbent Senator Stone in the Democratic primary. He then faced the Republican nominee Paula Hawkins, who had been the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor in the 1978 gubernatorial election. Gunter lost to Hawkins, who won 51.7 percent of the vote to Gunter's 48.3 percent. Gunter's loss was one of twelve Republican pickups in 1980, which produced a Republican majority in the Senate for the first time since 1954.
Gunter made a final U.S. Senate bid in 1988, narrowly losing the Democratic nomination to Buddy MacKay, who went on to lose the general election to Connie Mack III.
Post-politics
Gunter worked at Rogers, Gunter, Vaughn, a Tallahassee-based insurance agency and had been active in related trade associations and lobbying for the industry.
Gunter died at his home in Tallahassee on April 8, 2024, at the age of 89.
References
- Ryan, Robert (8 October 1980). "Hawkins, Gunter see 'heated' battle". Boca Raton News. p. 1. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
- "Bill Gunter, 89, former congressman and state official, dies at Tallahassee home". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
External links
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- United States Congress. "Bill Gunter (id: G000528)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
| Florida Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byJohn E. Mathews Jr. | Member of the Florida Senate from the 18th district 1966–1972 |
Succeeded byJohn T. Ware |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded byLouis Frey Jr. | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 5th congressional district 1973–1975 |
Succeeded byRichard Kelly |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded byThomas D. O'Malley Jr. | Democratic nominee for Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Fire Marshal of Florida 1976, 1978, 1982, 1986 |
Succeeded byKen Jenne |
| Preceded byRichard Stone | Democratic Party nominee for United States Senator from Florida (Class 3) 1980 |
Succeeded byBob Graham |
| Florida state treasurers | ||
|---|---|---|
| State Treasurer (1845–1941) |  | |
| State Treasurer and Fire Marshal (1941–60) | ||
| State Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Fire Marshal (1960–2003) | ||
| State Chief Financial Officer (since 2003) | ||
- 1934 births
- 2024 deaths
- Democratic Party Florida state senators
- University of Florida College of Agricultural and Life Sciences alumni
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Florida
- State Treasurers of Florida
- State insurance commissioners of the United States
- 20th-century Florida politicians
- Politicians from Jacksonville, Florida
- 20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives
- 20th-century members of the Florida Legislature