By Matt Youngfrau
MONTICELLO — August 5, 2003 – What has been speculated for weeks will be confirmed today.
Aileen Gunther is expected to announce today that she will be the Democratic candidate to fill the unexpired term of her late husband, Jake Gunther III, of the 98th Assembly District Seat.
Gunther called the press conference for today at noon at the Sullivan County Government Center in Monticello. Gunther, a Registered Nurse at Catskill Regional Medical Center (CRMC) in Harris, is expected to announce her intentions to run for the seat on Tuesday, November 4, to fill the remaining year left in her late husband’s term.
Jake Gunther III, 50, died suddenly on July 9 after a brief bout with cancer. Gunther served as Assemblyman for the district, which includes all of Sullivan County, for 11 years.
His district was also comprised of the cities of Middletown and Port Jervis and the towns of Deerpark, Minisink, Greenville, and Wawayanda in Orange County.
As of yet, the Republicans have no candidate to face Gunther. According to Sullivan County Republican Party Chair Greg Goldstein, discussions will be held, and an announcement is expected by the end of the week.
For full coverage of Aileen Gunther’s press conference, please see Friday’s edition of the Sullivan County Democrat.