U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has not only scheduled his first trip to Iowa since announcing his presidential candidacy, but he also has hired somebody to help build a campaign here.

The Sanders campaign said Thursday it has brought on Pete D'Alessandro to be its coordinator.

D'Alessandro, who is from Des Moines, has worked with Democratic candidates in the state for 20 years, including as the political director for former Iowa Gov. Chet Culver.

Sanders announced last month that he would run for president, and he is planning a three-day swing to the first-in-the-nation caucus state at the end of the month, after his May 26 kickoff in Vermont.

D'Alessandro said Thursday that he has been retained to put a team together in Iowa, from the state director level to field staffers. He said he also would be helping Sanders with visits to the state and putting him in touch with people.

D'Alessandro said that he has heard from people who want to work for the campaign and that he was impressed with Sanders' foresight on issues such as the rights of gays and lesbians to marry and opposing the Patriot Act and the Iraq War.