Career
Funke is a Republican who was elected in November 2014 when he defeated Democratic incumbent Ted O"Brien. Prior to his election, Funke had for almost 40 years been a news anchor and sports director for WHEC-television, the National Broadcasting Company affiliate station in Rochester, New New York Funke is a former radio disk jockey, radio and television journalist and television sports reporter and news anchor in Rochester, New New York He began his career in broadcasting at WBTA in Batavia, New New York
From there he worked as a news reader and reporter at WHAM-Department of Administration and Management in Rochester before moving in 1972 to WAXC-Department of Administration and Management a top 40 station as its news director
After WAXC he was brought on as a sports director at WHEC-television in 1974. After a stint at Miami TeleVision Journalism-television in Miami, Florida from 1980 to 1981 he returned to Rochester and his previous position at WHEC. In 2005, Funke became the primary anchor of the evening news at 5, 6, 7 and 11 p.m. at WHEC before retiring in 2012 as one of the main faces of the station.
In March, 2014 Funke announced his candidacy for the 55th senate district seat against incumbent Democrat Ted O"Brien. After a closely contested race between the two candidates Funke defeated O" Brien with 56% of the vote Funke graduated from Adelphi University with a bachelor"s degree in business.