After almost a month in Rep. Mary Bono’s (R-Calif.) office, the Congresswoman’s four newest staffers have begun to settle into their jobs.

Bono recently hired two attorneys, Jennifer Baird and Christopher Jaarda.

Baird works as legislative counsel handling telecommunications, intellectual property and other technology issues. She hails from the law firm McGuiness & Holch, where she worked as an associate attorney for two years. Baird, 28, earned her bachelor’s in literature from Florida State University and her law degree from the University of Baltimore in 2001.

Jaarda will serve as Bono’s legislative assistant handling tax policy, budget, banking and financial services, among other issues. He worked for four years in private legal practice as a corporate, tax and real estate attorney before joining the Congresswoman’s office. Jaarda, 30, holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Furman University and a law degree from Villanova University School of Law.

Joining Bono’s staff as senior legislative assistant specializing in health care and education issues is Katherine Martin. Martin, a veteran of Capitol Hill, most recently worked for Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.) as a legislative assistant and also worked in Rep. Mike Bilirakis’ (R-Fla.) office as a staff assistant and legislative correspondent. Martin, 27, graduated in 1998 from the University of Richmond with degrees in

art, Spanish and political science and is earning her master’s of business administration from Johns Hopkins University.

Bono’s newest staff assistant is Katie Angliss. A former high school teacher, Angliss, 24, handles front office responsibilities and Capitol tours. Angliss has political experience working on then-Mayor Susan Golding’s (R) mayoral race in San Diego in 1999. She is a 2001 graduate of Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science.

Pickering Pick-ups. It’s been a good year for Mississippians in Rep. Chip Pickering’s (R-Miss.) office, with three new hires and one new promotion for state natives.

John Rounsaville of Calhoun City, Miss., has been promoted to deputy chief of staff after serving the Congressman as legislative director for the past two years. Rounsaville, 28, joined Pickering’s staff in 1999 after receiving his bachelor’s degree in 1997 and his master’s of business administration in 1998 from Mississippi State University.

Pickering’s newest legislative director and counsel is Mike Hurst, 27, who hails from Hickory, Miss. Hurst moved to Pickering’s office from his job as counsel to the House Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution. Before coming to Capitol Hill, Hurst worked at Troutman Sanders law firm in Washington, D.C. He earned his bachelor’s in political science in 1997 from Millsaps College and then went on to George Washington University, where he earned his law degree in 2000.

Jackson, Miss., native Brian Perry, 28, is the office’s newest communications director. Perry has previously served as director of development at Belhaven College, editor of MagnoliaReport.com, an online publication for Mississippi politics, and deputy editorial page editor at the Madison County Journal, where he wrote a column for six years. Perry holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Belhaven College and a master’s degree in communications from Mississippi College.

Mary Mills Lane rounds out Pickering’s new hires as the newest staff assistant. Lane, 22, hails from Jackson, Miss., and joined the office after graduating from the University of Mississippi earlier this year with a degree in math.