SAN DIEGO — State Sen. Marty Block turns 65 later this month, but isn’t the retiring type.
Tuesday, he gave a hint about his future as Assemblywoman Toni Atkins won a four-year term in the 39th District, his seat since 2012.
And it won’t be another job in Sacramento.
“Some people have talked about me being the next community college chancellor statewide, and it’s a wonderful job,” Block said at Golden Hall. “It would be a wonderful opportunity.”
But after publicly expressing interest in the job five months ago, he learned it required his living in Sacramento year-round.
“So I’m not going to be applying for the community college chancellor’s job,” he said. “Instead, I’m going to do some good work in law and in education here in San Diego. There are going to be a couple of good opportunities that combine the two.”
He said he bought a house in La Jolla with his girlfriend about eight months ago, “and I’m committed to being a San Diegan.”
Block, a former San Diego State professor and president of the county Board of Education and San Diego Community College District board, said he’s been contacted about a job that combines his lawyer skills and education knowledge.
“It’s amazing, after you’ve been in the Senate, you get a lot of options,” said Block, who currently serves as chair of the Legislature’s Jewish Caucus
Until December, he has work to do in the Statehouse, saying: “I have some really good bills. I’m still shepherding through the process.” Among them is a bill that would prohibit the State of California from conducting business with firms that boycott Israel.
When he abruptly withdrew in late January from his race for re-election, clearing the way for Atkins’ ascent, Chancellor Constance Carroll of the San Diego Community College District told Times of San Diego that she was eager to support Block for the state’s top community college job, which was vacated in April by Brice Harris.
“Marty is supremely well-qualified for that position and other leadership positions in higher education,” Carroll said.
Francine Busby, the county Democratic Party chairwoman, also said at the time that she’d heard that Block was “seriously being considered” for the chancellor job.
Block himself called the chancellor’s post “a wonderful opportunity to make a huge difference in higher education” and the future of California.
But telecommuting is not an option, apparently, and he’s not a candidate.
“It’s bittersweet,” Block said of leaving the Senate. “There’s always more work that can be done. I’m going to be there for six more months…. But on the other hand … I’m looking forward to not having to commute back and forth.”
One more surprise move is possible, however.
“I own a house with my girlfriend,” he repeated. “Marriage may be in the future. You never know.”
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Stone is a contributing editor of Times of San Diego, which along with San Diego Jewish World is a member of the news-sharing San Diego Online News Association (SDONA).