Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.), who won a tight election against former state Sen. Jim Whitehead (R) to fill the vacancy left by the death of Rep. Charlie Norwood (R) in February, has filled his office with eight new staffers.

Legislative Correspondent David Barber is responsible for constituent mail, participated in moot court in high school and enjoys blacksmithing, pottery and classical, baroque and opera music.

New Jersey native Stephen Kraly spent five years at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as a legislative assistant before joining Broun’s office in the same position. He plays on an ice hockey team, which he believes to be called “Team Fraim” — though he’s not positive. [IMGCAP(1)]

A graduate of George Mason’s master’s program in public policy, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in political science from Kutztown University in southeastern Pennsylvania. Kraly, 29, said he’s excited to work for Broun because he “believes in the Constitution and votes that way.”

Broun’s new legislative director and deputy chief of staff is Derek Baker, who came to Broun’s office from the House Republican Study Committee. An avid churchgoer and father of two small children, he has been married to his wife, Melissa, for seven years. He said he is committed to working on an agenda that includes anti-abortion issues, judicial matters and immigration. [IMGCAP(2)]

Baker previously has worked for then-Sen. Phil Gramm and Rep. Jeb Hensarling, both Republicans from Texas. In three weeks, Baker will graduate from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., after putting himself through the school to obtain a degree in religion and politics. He participates in triathlons whenever he can.

Aloysius Hogan is Broun’s new chief of staff. He has a long history on Capitol Hill, including stints as a legislative director for Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), chief counsel on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, general counsel for Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) and legislative director for Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich.). He said he likes Broun because “he believes in conservative principles.”

He has three children with his wife, Jennifer, whom he met at a party at Grover Norquist’s house. He enjoys hockey, golf and marathons, and he speaks excitedly when talking about the seasoned staff in Broun’s office.

A May 2007 graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in finance, Tucker Brown is Broun’s new staff assistant. The former vice president of student government was part of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and is originally from Oconee County, Ga.

This past summer, Brown interned for The Heritage Foundation. He said his political hero is the late President Ronald Reagan and declined to add anything more to his interview when asked what else he might like to see about himself in Hill Climbers.

“My dad’s a police officer, my mom’s a school teacher, I’m a pretty simple guy,” he said.

Hailing from Gainesville, Ga., Teddie Norton is Broun’s new office manager and scheduler. A 2007 graduate of Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., with degrees in English and government, Norton previously interned for Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.).

“It’s been very exciting seeing the office developing from the ground up,” she said of working for Broun.

While at Wofford, Norton served as vice president of membership and vice president of external relations for Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

John Kennedy is Broun’s deputy chief of staff and communications director. The 1997 graduate of the University of Alabama law school previously worked for Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and enjoys scuba diving, playing guitar and, of course, politics.

“Blame it on ‘Schoolhouse Rock,’ maybe, but it was something that I always had a passion for,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy, 32, obtained his undergraduate degree in finance in 1992 from Louisiana State University.

Tackling the issues of homeland security, defense, foreign affairs and veterans affairs, Lydia Morgan is Broun’s new senior legislative assistant. She is finishing her last semester at The Institute for World Politics, where she’ll graduate with master’s degree in statecraft and national security affairs. She has a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in political science from California State University at Bakersfield. She previously worked for Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and former Reps. Max Burns (R-Ga.) and Bill Thomas (R-Calif.).

Morgan lived in Spain for a year and said she has traveled all over Europe.

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