Long Beach’s other state senator, Jenny Oropeza, is endorsing Tonia Reyes Uranga in today’s primary race against Bonnie Lowenthal to be the Democratic Party’s nominee for the 54th Assembly District–but not because Reyes Uranga’s name isn’t Lowenthal. Oropeza believes that too much emphasis has been placed on the so-called Lowenthal Dynasty.

“I think that’s kind of a side issue—kind of overblown, to be honest,” says Oropeza, whose roots in Long Beach reach back to her stints on the city council, school board and even student body president at Long Beach State. “It’s disrespectful to the electorate. To think that people would vote on the basis of a name is selling Long Beach citizens short. It dummies them down.”

A candidate with the last name of Lowenthal has never lost an election in Long Beach–a 16-0 record over the past 16 years. Lowenthals currently holding office include State Senator Alan, City Council members Bonnie and Suja and Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Daniel. Should Bonnie Lowenthal win election to the state assembly, a Lowenthal would have jurisdiction over the Port of Long Beach at three levels of government–Suja on the city council, Bonnie in the state assembly and Alan in the state senate.

“I think Tonia Reyes Uranga is the much superior candidate,” says Oropeza, “but my feelings about that have absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Bonnie’s last name is Lowenthal. I doubt if it will make much difference to anybody else, either.

“Whoever ends up representing the 54th Distict will face challenges. And whoever ends up representing that district receive the nurturing and help of those of us—Alan, Warren Furutani and myself—who are already in the legislature. We will work as a team.”