Longtime Mink
aide leaves for
Labor post

By Pete Pichaske
Phillips News Service

WASHINGTON -- Laura Efurd, for the past eight years one of Rep. Patsy Mink's closest aides, has left Mink's office to work as a congressional liaison in the Department of Labor.

"We're going to miss her terribly," said Mink. "She got a better opportunity. You can't stop someone from leaving."

Efurd, 34 and a graduate of Mililani High School, has worked with Mink since the congresswoman returned for her second stint on Capitol Hill in 1990.

"I had worked on the Hill before and wanted to go back, especially with someone from home," said Efurd.

Mink, meanwhile, was looking for someone with Hill experience, and hired Efurd as a legislative assistant. Almost immediately, Efurd was named legislative director, Mink's top policy and political adviser.

"I was making sure her bills were introduced, keeping up with committee work, supervising the legislative staff -- everything under the sun," said Efurd, who was often at Mink's side at committee meetings.

Efurd started this week as associate director of employment and training in the Labor Department's Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, a two-year political appointment.