'Last election' for state Sen. Alan Lowenthal

Though you may not have heard much about this political race, state Sen. Alan Lowenthal, practically a Democratic institution in Long Beach in his own right, is up for re-election Nov. 4.

In the Democratic-leaning 27th District, Lowenthal, a long-time and much beloved politician who has served on Long Beach City Council and in state Assembly, is considered pretty much a shoe-in. His opponent is Republican Allen Wood, a Cerritos businessman.

But Wood may be the last opponent Lowenthal ever faces, the state senator indicated Sunday during a forum hosted by the NAACP Long Beach Branch.

"This probably will be my last election," Lowenthal told the crowd.

I cornered him after the forum to clarify what he meant. Was he saying there's no gubernatorial, Congressional, mayoral or other political bid in his future?

Probably not, he told me. Assuming Lowenthal wins re-election to another four-year term in November, the former professor of community psychology at Cal State Long Beach may get back to teaching, he said.

"My heart is still as a teacher," Lowenthal told me.

While his academic expertise is in psychology, imagine the insight and experience he could share with a political science class. If I were a student with political aspirations, I would pay close attention in that class, particularly if it's "How to spend 20 years in elected office."