Bill Gunter

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William D. Gunter, Jr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 5th district
In office 1973 - 1975
Preceded by	Louis Frey, Jr.
Succeeded by	Richard Kelly
Born	July 16, 1934 Jacksonville, Florida
Political party	Democratic

William Dawson Gunter, Jr. also known as Bill Gunter, was a Floridian politician. He was a member of the Florida State Senate in 1966. He was elected to the represent the 5th District of Florida U.S. House of Representatives in 1972 and served one term. He was elected Florida State Treasurer in 1978. In 1980 he ran for the U.S. Senate. He defeated incumbent U.S. Sen. Richard Bernard Stone in the state's Democratic primary. He then faced the winner of the Republican primary, Paula Hawkins, who had been Jack Eckerd's running mate in the 1978 Gubernatorial election. In a close race, Gunter was defeated by Hawkins, with 51.7% of the vote going to Hawkins, and 48.3% going to Gunter. His loss was accompanied by the change of 11 other seats in the U.S. Senate from Democratic to Republican hands, riding on Reagan's coattails. This produced a Republican majority in the Senate for the first time since 1954.

Preceded by Louis Frey, Jr.

United States Representative for the 5th Congressional District of Florida 1973–1975

Succeeded by Richard Kelly