Lau concentrating on teaching at Harvard

Monday, April 20, 1998 | 9:57 a.m.

"It is energizing me," said Lau about teaching a class on politics. "I'm getting more of a national and international perspective."

Lau, 53, served as secretary of state between 1991 and 1995. She was defeated in the Republican primary for governor in 1994 by Jim Gibbons. Gibbons then defeated her again in the Republican primary for the 2nd Congressional District seat in 1996.

"I've won a race and I've lost," she said. "Winning is fun, but losing gives one a better perspective. Politics is in my blood."

For 18 months after leaving the secretary of state's position, Lau served as general counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives, working for House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga.

Lau said she returns once a month to Carson City to see her husband, former state Transportation Director Garth Dull.

"Nevada is my home," she said. "It is difficult to be away. I may find a way to stay home and help Harvard in a long-distance way."

Since last fall, Lau has been teaching under a fellowship at the John. F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. The fellowship ends in June.

She won't rule out another attempt to run for office in Nevada.

"It's nice to look at politics from another perspective," Lau said. "Who knows, I might jump back in again."