Video: Kelly And Staff Busy With Transition For Congressional Seat

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TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Next week, the newest congressman from Mississippi will take the oath of office.   On Tuesday,  Republican Trent Kelly won a decisive victory for the First District Congressional Seat , which became vacant when Congressman Alan Nunnelee died in February.

This afternoon, WCBI’s Allie Martin caught up with the congressman elect to see how the transition is going.

Since his victory Tuesday evening,  Trent Kelly has been meeting with his staff and trying to answer hundreds of congratulatory messages.

“It’s in excess probably of 500 texts if not a whole lot more,” Kelly said.

Kelly will resign his job as District Attorney in Tupelo, Pontotoc and surrounding towns.  Right now, he’s helping oversee plans for Congressional offices in Washington DC and in the first district.

The 49 year old attorney, who served two tours of duty in Iraq with the Mississippi National Guard, says the past few months have been a whirlwind.

“Just like this campaign, that we ran a year campaign in 13 weeks, basically we’re doing the same thing going into office, we don’t get the orientation with the whole freshmen class and that stuff,  I will be doing a lot of things on the fly and it’s good to be flexible,” he said.

For example, Kelly is still trying to find a place to live near Capitol Hill. He may use his office as a temporary residence.

“I’m going to do whatever I have to, but I’ve slept on a cot before for a long time in Iraq, so if I need to do that I’m prepared to, but we will try to transition just as quickly as possible,” Kelly said.

Kelly says having solid staff members makes the transition easier.  He says his family is looking forward to a new chapter in their lives.

“They’re real excited, my nine year old has never been to Washington DC, he’s been to New York, but never been to Washington DC, so he’s really looking forward to going to the nation’s capitol and maybe do some sight seeing,” he said.

Kelly says he is ready to get to work in Washington DC but he plans on returning to the First District as much as possible .

Kelly will take a ceremonial oath of office Monday morning.  He will be sworn in by House Speaker John Boehner Tuesday evening.