ɡˈʌnθɚ fˈɜːst sˈɜːvd ɔnðə stɹˈætfɚd bˈoːɹd ʌv ˌɛdʒuːkˈeɪʃən fɔːɹ fˈoːɹ jˈɪɹz, fˈɑːloʊd baɪ fˈaɪv jˈɪɹz ɔnðə stɹˈætfɚd tˈaʊn kˈaʊnsəl, bᵻfˌoːɹ bˌiːɪŋ ᵻlˈɛktᵻd tə ðə stˈeɪt sˈɛnət.
Gunther first served on the Stratford Board of Education for four years, followed by five years on the Stratford Town Council, before being elected to the state Senate.