Bill Gunter | |
|---|---|
 Gunter in 1969 | |
| 21stTreasurer, 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 theU.S. House of Representatives fromFlorida's5th district | |
| In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1975 | |
| Preceded by | New Constituency (Redistricting) |
| Succeeded by | Richard Kelly |
| Member of theFlorida 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 thestate ofFlorida. From 1973 to 1975, he served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He then served 12 years in statewide elected office asTreasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Fire Marshal of Florida.
Gunter was born inJacksonville in 1934. He attendedpublic schools inLive Oak and received hisBachelor of Science in Agriculture (B.S.A.) from theUniversity of Florida in 1956. While a student at Florida, he was a member of theSigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity (Florida Upsilon chapter). Gunter briefly attended theUniversity of Georgia in 1957 and served in theUnited States Army from 1957 to 1958.
Gunter was a member of theFlorida State Senate in 1966. He was elected as aDemocrat to theUnited States House of Representatives as the first member fromFlorida's 5th congressional district, a newly created district in theOrlando area, in the1972 election. He only served a single term. His voting record in the93rd Congress was generally moderate.[citation needed]
Gunter unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for theU.S. Senate in1974, but lost the primary toRichard Stone. He was electedFlorida State Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner in 1976 and served in this post until 1988.
In1980, Gunter ran again for the U.S. Senate, defeating incumbent Senator Stone in the Democratic primary.[1] He then faced theRepublican nomineePaula Hawkins, who had been the Republican nominee forlieutenant governor in the1978 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 in1988, narrowly losing the Democratic nomination toBuddy MacKay, who went on to lose the general election toConnie Mack III.
Gunter worked at Rogers, Gunter, Vaughn, aTallahassee-based insurance agency and had been active in relatedtrade associations andlobbying for the industry.
Gunter died at his home in Tallahassee on April 8, 2024, at the age of 89.[2]
| Florida Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John E. Mathews Jr. | Member of theFlorida Senate from the 18th district 1966–1972 | Succeeded by John T. Ware |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromFlorida's 5th congressional district 1973–1975 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forTreasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Fire Marshal of Florida 1976, 1978, 1982, 1986 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Democratic Party nominee forUnited States Senator fromFlorida (Class 3) 1980 | Succeeded by |
| State treasurers(1845–1941) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| State treasurers and fire marshals(1941–60) | ||
| State treasurers, insurance commissioners, and fire marshals(1960–2003) | ||
| Chief financial officers(since 2003) | ||
