Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.) has made several changes to his staff recently.

Tina Pearson, 30, joins the staff as a legislative correspondent. A native of Wilmington, N.C., and a constituent of the Congressman, Pearson was a school teacher before coming to Washington. In 2003, she won the Teacher of the Year award at Eugene Ashley High School in Wilmington.

Pearson attended Meredith College in Raleigh, N.C. In 1996 she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in American civilization. As legislative correspondent, she will be handling education, government reform and housing issues for the Congressman. In addition to her legislative duties, she will also serve as intern coordinator.

Another new addition to McIntyre’s office is Kim Sega. The 24-year-old comes on as special projects coordinator and legislative assistant. The issues she covers include appropriations, homeland security, transportation and the environment.

Sega graduated from George Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in international affairs in 2002. That same year, the Wallingford, Conn., native interned for Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.). Before coming to McIntyre’s office, she worked for the National Association of Letter Carriers as a regional field coordinator.

Fran Benton, 23, is McIntyre’s systems administrator and legislative correspondent. The Wilson, N.C., native joined the staff in July 2003 and handles children’s issues, entertainment/arts, welfare and juvenile justice for the Congressman.

Benton graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s degree in political science and communications. In addition to her duties as legislative correspondent, Benton manages the Congressman’s Web site and produces the monthly McIntyrE-news, the electronic newsletter sent out to his constituents.

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New Press Secretary for Walden. Earlier in July, Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) named Angela Wilhelms, 26, to the position of press secretary in his Washington, D.C., office. Replacing Dallas Boyd in Walden’s office, Wilhelms will handle all press and media relations for the Congressman.

Originally from Klamath Falls, Ore., the daughter of former Oregon House Minority Leader Gary Wilhelms (R) has spent most of her time in the Portland area.

Wilhelms attended Santa Clara University, where she received a bachelor’s of science in commerce and captained the women’s rowing team. After graduating in 2000, she spent some time doing financial analysis for a medical company in Santa Clara, Calif., before “returning to Oregon to work in the political scene.”

She started off in the Oregon House Majority Office where she worked with former Oregon Senate Majority Leader David Nelson (R). Wilhelms was also a consultant on a number of legislative races and statewide issues.