By TOM RUE
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Gunther begins third Assembly term
MONTICELLO - Entering his third two-year term as representative for the 98th Assembly district, Jacob E. Gunther, III (D-98) of Forestburgh appeared pleased and thoughtful. Chief administrative judge Joseph Traficanti administered the oath at a January 6 swearing-in ceremony at the Sullivan County court house.
"There are no crowns that come with public office... The law does not exist to be served by the people, but to serve the people," Traficanti said, pointing out that hard work and sacrifice are elements of public service. Traficanti charged Gunther to hold himself to the "highest standards of ethics and good conduct" during the coming two years.
In the recent general election, Gunther was opposed only by Right-To-Life Party candidate Gerald W. McMurrer, who received less than 1000 votes, to Gunther's nearly 17,000. In the last election, he defeated Republican Lydia Fish by a two-to-one margin; and a RTL candidate who pulled in over 1000 votes.
Gunther cited a turnover of 70 new Assembly members since he took office four years ago, adding that his freshman term was particularly frustrating.
Helping explain Gunther's voter support, Bethel supervisor Allen Scott commended him for championing reimbursement to local governments for state-owned land, relieving towns, counties and school districts across the state. Scott was invited by Gunther to speak. Prior to the measure, Bethel was burdened by the tax-exemption of Lake Superior State Park.
Gunther told the packed court room -- which included numerous village, town and county officials -- that his priorities as a legislator include economic development, education, state aid for recycling, real-property tax reform, workers' compensation reform, victims' rights, and placing a casino initiative on a statewide ballot by November 1997.
Thanking his wife Aileen, a registered nurse at Community General Hospital in Harris; children, Mary Alice, Jake IV, and Caitlin; parents, and friends, Gunther made special note of his office staff, including Sean Hanofee, Rita Simon, Jill Olman, Chris Gozza, and Jeff Berkman.
The 98th district covers all of Sullivan and the western portion of Orange counties. First elected in 1992, Gunther has served on Assembly committees for agriculture, environmental conservation, local government, racing and wagering, real property tax, tourism, arts & sports development.
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