By Sean Mussenden
Media General News Service
Media General News Service
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WASHINGTON—The pictures are down and the awards packed away in Rep. Robin Hayes’ Capitol Hill office.
His desk flanked by cardboard moving boxes, Hayes, R-N.C., said goodbye to old friends this week and considered his options after losing a bid for a sixth two-year term in Congress.
“The memories I have of 10 years, it just doesn’t seem like it’s been that long,” Hayes said in an interview.
As Hayes’ congressional career was drawing to a close, Democrat Larry Kissell, a schoolteacher who soundly defeated Hayes in a district that stretches from Concord to Ft. Bragg, was just beginning his tenure in Washington at an orientation for freshman lawmakers this week.
“It’s been a little bit of a whirlwind of getting to know people and procedures, and getting a good start towards coming up here in January,” Kissell said in an interview.
This week, he joined other freshman in classes on ethics and operating a congressional office. He attended dinners with House leaders and met with other North Carolina Democrats.
He hired a chief of staff, his campaign manger, Leanne Powell. He requested slots on the same three committees on which Hayes served – agriculture, transportation and armed services.
He will discover the location of his office after a lottery drawing Friday, but he already has a place to live next year when Congress is in session – a small studio apartment within walking distance of the Capitol.
“It’s a little bit bigger than a dorm room, but it will be fine for me,” Kissell said.
As a social studies teacher with a passion for history, Kissell said his first trip to Washington after the election had left him somewhat awestruck.
“When I came in Sunday night and saw the Capitol dome glowing, it stirs you, it gives you a sense of that humbleness, of what you’ve been trusted to do by so many people,” he said.
Hayes said he has not yet determined what to do when his term ends in January.
This week, he spent what is likely to be the 110th Congress’ last days in Washington wrapping up loose ends. He helped his staff find new jobs, and closed out requests for help from constituents or prepared to pass their cases on to the new guy.
He said he hasn’t spent much time thinking about the future.
“Even though I won’t be an active member of Congress, there are a lot of things I can and will do to continue to help the district,” he said.
He said he had not ruled out running against Kissell in two years.
“I’m not thinking about that today. Some people have done that. It’s certainly a possibility, but again that’s on down the road,” he said.
Sean Mussenden can be reached at smussenden@mediageneral.com or 202-662-7668
Video Player: Rep. Hayes talks about his last days in Congress.
His desk flanked by cardboard moving boxes, Hayes, R-N.C., said goodbye to old friends this week and considered his options after losing a bid for a sixth two-year term in Congress.
“The memories I have of 10 years, it just doesn’t seem like it’s been that long,” Hayes said in an interview.
As Hayes’ congressional career was drawing to a close, Democrat Larry Kissell, a schoolteacher who soundly defeated Hayes in a district that stretches from Concord to Ft. Bragg, was just beginning his tenure in Washington at an orientation for freshman lawmakers this week.
“It’s been a little bit of a whirlwind of getting to know people and procedures, and getting a good start towards coming up here in January,” Kissell said in an interview.
This week, he joined other freshman in classes on ethics and operating a congressional office. He attended dinners with House leaders and met with other North Carolina Democrats.
He hired a chief of staff, his campaign manger, Leanne Powell. He requested slots on the same three committees on which Hayes served – agriculture, transportation and armed services.
He will discover the location of his office after a lottery drawing Friday, but he already has a place to live next year when Congress is in session – a small studio apartment within walking distance of the Capitol.
“It’s a little bit bigger than a dorm room, but it will be fine for me,” Kissell said.
As a social studies teacher with a passion for history, Kissell said his first trip to Washington after the election had left him somewhat awestruck.
“When I came in Sunday night and saw the Capitol dome glowing, it stirs you, it gives you a sense of that humbleness, of what you’ve been trusted to do by so many people,” he said.
Hayes said he has not yet determined what to do when his term ends in January.
This week, he spent what is likely to be the 110th Congress’ last days in Washington wrapping up loose ends. He helped his staff find new jobs, and closed out requests for help from constituents or prepared to pass their cases on to the new guy.
He said he hasn’t spent much time thinking about the future.
“Even though I won’t be an active member of Congress, there are a lot of things I can and will do to continue to help the district,” he said.
He said he had not ruled out running against Kissell in two years.
“I’m not thinking about that today. Some people have done that. It’s certainly a possibility, but again that’s on down the road,” he said.
Sean Mussenden can be reached at smussenden@mediageneral.com or 202-662-7668
Video Player: Rep. Hayes talks about his last days in Congress.