This was a race somewhat under my radar. I knew about it but didn't really take an active role. However, the club my wife is on the board of, Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, endorsed Richard Montelione in this race, seeing it as a chance to defeat a less qualified candidate who happened to be tied to the increasingly discredited Vito Lopez machine.

Overall this was a race between two good candidates. However, the BETTER, more reform candidate won. That is far from always true in Vito Lopez's Brooklyn.

LAMBDA INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATS OF BROOKLYN CELEBRATES THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VICTORY OF OPENLY GAY ATTORNEY RICHARD MONTELIONE

MONTELIONE WILL BE BROOKLYN'S FIRST OUT GAY JUDGE IN FOURTEEN YEARS

Civil Court races tend to be sleepy affairs, but not this one! The race for Civil Court in Brooklyn’s First Municipal District became heated at times, with some of the biggest names in Democratic politics weighing-in. In the end, Richard Montelione won the race, becoming the first openly gay candidate to be elected to public office in Brooklyn in over 14 years.  read more »