from subprocess import Popen

cmd = ['/usr/bin/ssh', '-L', '27000:lm-sge:27000',  '-f', 'server.edu', '-N']
p = Popen(cmd)
# ps ax | grep ssh

#27206   ??  Ss     0:00.00 /usr/bin/ssh -L 27000:lm-sge:27000 -f server.edu -N
#27205 s013  Z+     0:00.00 (ssh)

# Cannot p.kill() or p.terminate()