The Assemblywoman’s door was always open

Aileen Gunther reflects on a career in politics

By Erick Slattery | Manor Ink

It can be seen as the end of an era. But for Aileen Gunther, a 21-year veteran of New York State’s Assembly, it’s also the start of a new chapter in her life.

Gunther didn’t plan to have a life in politics. She went into health care after earning a degree in nursing from Orange County Community College (now SUNY Orange). Her focus was on infection control, working as a nurse and raising a family of three after meeting and marrying Middletown native Jacob Gunther III in 1978. Gunther was Forestburgh’s town justice when, in 1992, he decided to run for Assembly in New York’s 98th District. He won, and quickly became one of Albany’s favorite sons. Then, in the summer of 2003, everything changed.

Jake Gunther died suddenly of cancer at the age of 50. And Aileen Gunther, deciding his work in New York politics was unfinished, ran for his seat in the Assembly. She won, and has been the representative for the 98th and now the 100th District ever since.

As a tribute to Sullivan County’s long-serving advocate in the Assembly, Manor Ink sat down with Gunther to get her thoughts about her years in Albany, her views on politics past and present, and her insights on a life spent working to help her fellow New Yorkers, regardless of their politics. Here, edited for length and clarity, is what she had to say.

What motivated you to run for office after the sad and untimely loss of your husband?
Well, there were a couple of reasons. For years and years, I had helped get people elected, including my husband. So I was kind of behind the scenes, and I knew a lot about exactly what he did in the Assembly – I knew how to pass a bill. I also knew what people in Sullivan and Orange County needed, because I worked in the hospital. When they came to the emergency room, came to the floors, I was able to learn about their lack of housing, poverty, single moms, lack of access to health care, all of those kinds of things, and they were always important to me.

Is there anything else from your medical background that helped you with your political career?
I think I learned empathy. A lot of folks, they run for office, and sometimes think they’re – I’ll use this expression – “big shots.” But I felt humbled by doing what I did – that people had faith in me. I think that access to people that represent you is most important. So, from the day I started working in the Assembly, I had an open-door policy. People didn’t need to have an appointment. They could walk in, they could bring their family. And a lot of times, people who didn’t have family would come and sit and have coffee with me. I have a friend, Richard, who does that. So it’s important that people have access to politicians.

What was it like to run for office, change careers while being a mom? Scary?
It was very scary! But I had a lot of good people behind me. My daughter, Mary Alice, stayed with me the whole time. I had my son, Jacob, and other daughter, Caitlin, and they too were great. And then I had some great friends helping me. I just worked hard. I mean, I had never debated anybody in my life before, but I was able to do it!

What were your biggest challenges while serving in the Assembly?
I think that one of the biggest challenges as an upstate representative was the fact that I was only one person. If you’re from Westchester, you might be one of five or six Assemblypersons, but in my community, one person represents all of Sullivan County, Wallkill and part of Middletown. So it’s a very, very large and diverse community, and it’s a challenge representing all those people, and also getting from pillar to post, making sure we pay attention to their needs. There’s an elderly gentleman who came in and he was really, really skinny because he didn’t have any teeth. He didn’t know how to go about getting false teeth, so my friend Jean Gallagher got them for him, and he walked in with his new teeth and smiled – he didn’t have to feel embarrassed anymore, and he was just so happy and grateful.

What would you say the most satisfying part of being such an asset to the community would be for you?
Just helping people. I guess that’s all.

Looking back on your political career, what would you say were your biggest accomplishments?
I think in terms of legislation, safe staffing in hospitals, meaning assigning one registered nurse to four patients. It wasn’t like that before – sometimes nurses had 15 or 16 people and they really couldn’t care for them properly.

Any words of wisdom for your successor?
Care about people. I think that’s about the only thing I can say – care about them.

Is there a candidate you’re willing to endorse?
I’m gonna stay away from that, right? I don’t want to make this political!