Richard Realmuto

Richard Realmuto is an attorney in Washington Heights, New York City. After representing immigrants and working families for 23 years, he surprised the political world by running for the New York City Council in 2009, and nearly winning.
City council campaign
In 2009, with no money, no campaign staff, and no political experience, Realmuto announced his candidacy for City Council in the overwhelmingly Dominican neighborhood of Washington Heights and Inwood.
In a field of nine candidates, Realmuto was the only non-Dominican in the race. Yet with no money, staff or prior experience, Realmuto came in second with 1,189 votes - almost as much as the remaining seven candidates combined.
“Some of my message got through,” said Realmuto, though disappointed that he didn't win. “I thought that the other candidates would have drawn off Rodriguez’ strength." Before the incumbent City Councilman Miguel Martinez resigned, Realmuto expected the incumbent and Ydanis Rodriguez to split their base of supporters, allowing Realmuto to finish even better than he did.

The only non-Hispanic candidate in the race, Realmuto downplayed ethnicity and adhered to his core message of fiscal responsibility and support foir charter schools. He encouraged Rodriguez to adopt some of his platform.
Judgeship
Realmuto's polticial performance was so striking, that he was drafted to run for a New York Civil Court Judgeship in 2010, and is considered a rising star in New York City politics.

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