Upon graduation, he received a full tuition scholarship to attend Temple Law School in Philadelphia where he earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1975.

Thereafter, Montano returned to New York City and became the Deputy Director of the Institute of Puerto Rican Urban Studies in the Bronx, a housing development program that promoted rehabilitation and new construction.

[2] Montano returned to the practice of law in Philadelphia and was appointed Senior Trial Attorney with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 1979.

[7] Senator Johnson, after 40 years in office announced that he would be retiring and Assemblyman Phil Boyle won the Republican, Independence and Conservative Party nominations as well as the lion's share of endorsements from labor, environmental groups and law enforcement.

The Newsday editorial board judged the two candidates' positions on supporting the DREAM Act, lowering property taxes, and reducing unfunded state mandates to be similar.

Rick Montano supports equal pay for women, as well as increasing the minimum wage, maintaining school funding, and protecting the local environment.

The lawsuit ultimately succeeded when Justice R. Bruce Cozzens ruled in favor of the County by declaring the New York City MTA's $1.2 payroll tax unconstitutional.