Rudy Pantoja
Born
Rudolph McCoy-Pantoja Jr.

(1964-07-20) July 20, 1964 (age 59)
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Other namesHugh Mungus
OccupationLandscaper
Known forInternet meme

Rudolph McCoy-Pantoja Jr. (born July 20, 1964)[1] 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.[2][3][4]

At the meeting, activist Zarna Joshi condemned the proposed police station and police in general.[2] Afterwards, she approached Pantoja outside of City Council chambers as she was videotaping. Pantoja asked if she was recording him and if she wanted his name, to which she agreed. He proceeded to offer the gag name "Hugh Mungus". Joshi responded by angrily and repeatedly asking "Humongous what?", accusing him of sexual harassment, pursuing him with her camera, and ultimately ending up in an altercation with the authorities present.[5][6][7][2] The video gained particular notoriety online following a reaction video posted by YouTube channel h3h3Productions.[8]

Community activities

Pantoja chose not to take part in the Great American Boycott on May 1, 2006. He instead was seen sweeping a sidewalk in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle.[9]

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."[10]

Pantoja supports Everett-based charity Hope Soldiers, an organization that aims to help people struggling with addiction and depression off the streets.[11][2]

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".[1][7]

In May 2019, Pantoja attended a public safety forum about neighborhood crime held by Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan.[12]

Pantoja has been working as a landscaper and garden designer in the Seattle Area since the 1990s, and has said he has installed stone paths, waterfalls, and fountains.[13][2]

Personal life

Pantoja is of Mexican, German and Native American descent, and considers himself to be Chicano.[4] 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.[14] Some of the problems he faced were a hip replacement, his truck breaking down, and being served an eviction notice.[15]

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.[2]

Pantoja lives in Crown Hill.[12] Pantoja also starred in the Ballard High School short film Richard.[16]

Electoral history

Washington State Representative Primary Election District 36 Position 2, 1994[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Lou Dickerson 4,922 23.32
Republican Richard P. Cantrell 3,343 15.84
Democratic Mark Lindquist 3,316 15.71
Democratic Jeffrey Coopersmith 3,247 15.38
Democratic Don Moreland 2,020 9.57
Democratic Chris Snell 1,965 9.31
Republican Rudy Pantoja 1,442 6.83
Democratic Cleve Stockmeyer 850 4.03
Total votes 21,105 100.0
Washington State Representative Election District 36 Position 2, 1996[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Lou Dickerson 38,704 74.53
Republican Rudy Pantoja 11,358 21.87
Natural Law Bonita Carol Brett 1,871 3.60
Total votes 51,933 100.0
Washington State Representative Election District 36 Position 2, 2002[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Lou Dickerson 36,226 80.40
Republican Rudy Pantoja 8,831 19.60
Total votes 45,057 100.0
Seattle City Council Primary Election Position 8, 2017[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Teresa Mosqueda 24,907 30.80
Non-partisan Jon Grant 19,640 24.29
Non-partisan Sara E. Nelson 18,704 23.13
Non-partisan Rudy Pantoja 4,650 5.75
Non-partisan Charlene D. Strong 4,191 5.18
Non-partisan Sheley Secrest 3,864 4.78
Non-partisan Hisam Goueli 2,548 3.15
Non-partisan Mac McGregor 2,066 2.56
Write-in Write-in 284 0.35
Total votes 80,854 100.0

References

  1. ^ a b Ralphie (April 25, 2006). "Candidate – Rudy McCoy-Pantoja Jr". Our Campaigns. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Harms, Shane (September 20, 2016). "Ballardite speaks out after 'Hugh Mungus' viral controversy". Westside Seattle. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  3. ^ BEFORE THE HUGH MUNGUS INCIDENT (original video). Retrieved January 16, 2020 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ a b "H3 Podcast #18 – Hugh Mungus". H3 Podcast. Retrieved August 4, 2017 – via YouTube. ...It's Mexican-American. My grandparents are from Mexico, and on my mom's side, we got the German and the Native American...
  5. ^ "Guy Says His Name Is "Hugh Mungus," BLM Activist Cries Sexual Harassment (Archive)". Heat Street. August 22, 2016. Archived from the original on November 3, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  6. ^ "Candidate Profile: Rudy Pantoja Jr". Seattle Met. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  7. ^ a b Person, Daniel (June 15, 2017). "Race, Rents, and Burgess-Bashing Dominate Forum for City Council Position 8". Seattle Weekly. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  8. ^ "Hugh Mungus Facebook Meme Mocks 'Triggered' Woman". The Daily Dot. September 7, 2016.
  9. ^ "Immigrants Rally And Hold Boycotts Nationwide". Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  10. ^ "Seahawks fan to exchange gifts with Wis. mayor". The Seattle Times. September 29, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  11. ^ Muhlstein, Julie (May 3, 2016). "Hope Soldiers' goal: Help revive those saddled with addiction, depression". HeraldNet. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Seattle mayor, other leaders to talk with public about neighborhood crime". KOMO. May 14, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  13. ^ Kemp, Al (August 6, 2020). "Create a real-life retreat by borrowing some vibes from the Animal Crossing game". Seattle Times. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  14. ^ "Hugh Mungus Fundraiser SHUT DOWN". h3h3Productions. November 8, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2019 – via YouTube.
  15. ^ "Seven candidates file for Seattle City Council Position 8 race". CHS Capitol Hill Seattle. January 30, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  16. ^ "RICHARD - Starring: Hugh Mungus". YouTube.
  17. ^ "Election Search Results – Elections & Voting". WA Secretary of State. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  18. ^ "Election Search Results – Elections & Voting". WA Secretary of State. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  19. ^ "Election Search Results – Elections & Voting". WA Secretary of State. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  20. ^ "2017 Results August primary election". Retrieved August 2, 2017.
Categories