Rudy Pantoja

Rudolph McCoy-Pantoja Jr. (born July 20, 1964) is an American perennial political candidate and resident of Seattle, Washington. He became an internet meme due to a 2016 viral video of him jokingly identifying as "Hugh Mungus".
The "Hugh Mungus" incident
On August 10, 2016, Pantoja spoke at a public meeting of the Seattle City Council in support of a new police station in the North Precinct, crediting the police with helping his daughter obtain treatment for addiction to heroin.
Following the 2012 Packers-Seahawks officiating controversy, Pantoja attempted to exchange gifts with Green Bay, Wisconsin mayor Jim Schmitt. After Schmitt's office refused the gifts, Pantoja exchanged gifts with Delavan, Wisconsin mayor Mel Nieuwenhuis. Pantoja sent local beer, smoked salmon and kringles to Nieuwenhuis. In return Nieuwenhuis planned to send a "six or 12-pack of Miller High Life, cheese and fresh venison he hunted himself."
Pantoja supports Everett-based charity Hope Soldiers, an organization that aims to help people struggling with addiction and depression off the streets.
A gardener by profession, he ran for Washington House of Representatives in 1994, 1996, and 2002. He ran for Seattle City Council Position 8 in 2017 and opposed a local income tax, arguing that "it would have to be determined statewide".
In May 2019, Pantoja attended a public safety forum about neighborhood crime held by Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan. A GoFundMe campaign started by Ethan Klein of h3h3Productions in November 2016 raised $155,000 for him after he faced several health problems. Klein originally set up a YouCaring campaign, but it was shut down. Some of the problems he faced were a hip replacement, his truck breaking down, and being served an eviction notice.
Pantoja is a grandfather and mentioned his daughter had previously struggled from opiate addiction until he was able to get her into a recovery program, and Pantoja himself was also in recovery from alcoholism. Pantoja also starred in the Ballard High School short film Richard.
Electoral history

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