 Since the election, Runte has remained a popular figure among the neighborhood parks and environmental interests in Seattle.He spoke before a crowd of diverse neighborhood groups in early 2006 which marched on Woodland Park Zoo to protest the mayor's plans to build a parking garage in the middle of a city park.Runte ran for Position 3 on the Seattle City Council, formerly held by Peter Steinbrueck who announced he would not run for a fourth term.