Video: Republican Trent Kelly Believes Conservative, Family Values Makes Him Man For First District Seat

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TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – First District voters will decide on Tuesday who will fill the remainder of Alan Nunnelee’s congressional seat.  Nunnelee passed away in February and two candidates are still standing after a special election last month.  Tonight, WCBI’s Allie Martin talks to Trent Kelly, the Republican candidate, who is hoping his conservative views and hard work will lead him to victory.

It’s the final, full day of campaigning before Tuesday’s runoff and Trent Kelly, his family and staffers, are getting ready to visit with voters.

Kelly’s campaign bus left Tupelo for the beginning of a last minute  blitz.

“We’re hitting the majority I think, around 19 of the 22 counties we’re trying to hit,” Kelly said.

The first stop was in Amory, where the 49 year old District Attorney shook hands with locals and posed for photos.

Kelly believes his conservative values and experience as a Colonel in the Mississippi National Guard, including two tours in Iraq, will help him represent First District constituents.

“I think it’s really important to have that perspective when we decide whether or not to send men and women into harm’s way, think it’s important we have people who have endured those hardships and know that before they send others to do the same. Also, just the high level of military training I’ve had up through the Army War College and a Masters of Strategic Studies from the Army War College helps you to understand things on a national and international level, rather than on a local level,” Kelly said.

On social issues, Kelly is pro life,  believes in traditional marriage and says the federal government should not burden small businesses with unnecessary regulations.

Kelly also believes the federal government should fund education, but decision making and policies should take place at the local level.

But his main push this final campaign swing is voter turnout.

On May 12th,  Kelly came in second place overall, to Democrat Walter Zinn. And although many believe a majority of the Republican and Tea Party votes will go his way,  Kelly is taking no chances.

“I’m just a guy, I look up and say scoreboard, he was first on the scoreboard when it finished that night and I finished second so I want my folks to go out and make sure we don’t do a repeat second place finish,” he said.

Kelly starts the second leg of his tour through the district Tuesday in Louisville, and he will finish in Saltillo where he will vote before watching the returns with family, friends and supporters.