Congressmen-elect Tim Walberg getting re-acquainted with Washington, D.C.

Congressman-elect Tim Walberg is in Washington this week, picking out his office, interviewing staff members, and getting to know many of the new members that he will serve alongside in a House controlled by Republicans.

Technically a sophomore, since he served one term previously, Walberg said this week’s orientation was more of a refresher course.

“We have done it before so we know the surroundings,” he said.

The man Walberg defeated, U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, is also back in Washington this week taking part in the lame-duck session of Congress.

Schauer has not spoken publicly since losing to Walberg two weeks ago. His staff said he decided not to conduct any interviews until Congress returned to session this week.

Messages seeking comment from Schauer on Tuesday were not returned.

Walberg arrived in Washington on Saturday and will return Friday. He said his week so far has been filled with meetings.

On Monday, he looked at the congressional offices that will open up and picked which ones he would most prefer. On Tuesday, he got his lottery number in the office selection drawing. Each member of the sophomore class went down the line alphabetically to pick a number out of a box, and he landed No. 27. He said he is hopeful one of the offices he had eyed earlier will still be available when it is his turn to pick.

He also continued interviewing staff members and said some of his former staffers who worked with him during his stint in Congress from 2007-08 will come back.

Aside from the work in D.C., Walberg said he hopes 800 W. Ganson St. will be the site of his district office in Jackson. It is the same location he used during his term and the one Schauer used during his.

“We were very satisfied with it,” Walberg said.

Walberg said he has also been meeting some new members of the freshman class and new members of Michigan’s congressional delegation with whom he said he looks forward to serving.

That includes the only freshman Democrat from Michigan, former state Sen. Hansen Clarke. Walberg said he and Clarke served together for one term in the state House.

“We’ll keep working on the issues relating to Michigan,” Walberg said.

On Wednesday, the Republican conference will meet for its elections, and Walberg said he plans to vote for John Boehner as the GOP leader. Boehner is expected to be the next Speaker of the House.

Walberg said once he takes office in January, he will continue to try and be responsive to the concerns of the district.

“We attempted to do everything possible as a freshman to spend time back in the district,” Walberg said.

This time around, he said he will be able to work wiser due to his experience.

He said his focus during this term will be on balancing the budget. Walberg said, like his constituents, he is worried about the debt being left to future generations.

“We have to stop this runaway spending,” he said.

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