Allan Howe spent a significant portion of his career in public service, maintaining that politicians' private moral behavior was relevant to their public service. Despite facing misdemeanor charges and losing reelection, he retained the endorsement of local Democratic officials. Post-1976, Howe transitioned to a career in lobbying, working for the National Park and Hospitality Association.

Allan Howe's political identity is marked by an unusual insistence that politicians' private moral behavior should inform their public service, a stance that contrasts with the often compartmentalized views of personal and professional ethics. Despite personal legal troubles, Howe's career trajectory reveals a calculated approach to political survival and adaptation, transitioning from elected office to a lobbyist role. His later work for the National Park and Hospitality Association highlights a potential tension between his earlier moralistic stance and a pragmatic pursuit of influence in specific industries.