By: Sarah Abruzzese

Steve Stivers and Mary Jo Kilroy are getting a full introduction this week to life in Congress: the candlelight dinners, the ethics briefings, the government-issued BlackBerry.

One of them won’t be back in January to enjoy it.

Stivers, a Republican, and Kilroy, a Democrat, are locked in a still-too-close-to-call race in Ohio’s 15th Congressional District. Because one of them is going to be the district’s next representative — Stivers has a slim lead with votes still being counted — both are in Washington this week for freshman orientation events.

“We decided one of us is going to win, and for the good of our district and constituents, we thought it important the winner be prepared,” Kilroy said.

So did the Committee on House Administration. Press director Kyle Anderson said the committee decided to invite Stivers and Kilroy, as well as Charlie Brown and Tom McClintock — still running neck and neck in California’s 4th Congressional District — and to extend to all four every congressional courtesy, including the title of member-elect.

The only undecided House-race contestants who didn’t make the cut: the four finalists for the newly created delegate seat from the Northern Mariana Islands. The daylong flight was deemed too long for four delegates-elect whose race could be decided any moment now.

On the Senate side, Al Franken — still awaiting all the votes to be counted in Minnesota — has been in Washington this week, even though it’s not clear whether he’ll be replacing Republican Sen. Norm Coleman. 

Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich has not been here, even though it’s now clear that he will succeed Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska).

Brown, a Democrat, said he’s using the orientation to build a network of soon-to-be-freshman members, although he knows he might ultimately not be one of them. 

Asked if he finds the uncertainty nerve-racking, Brown — a former Air Force pilot — said it’s nothing compared to going into combat or realizing that your engine is on fire.

But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Ask Democrat Mike Feeley, who attended freshman orientation in 2002 as the trailing candidate in a Colorado race he went on to lose.

“It was awkward and depressing, and I say that because I remember these details so well,” Feeley said. “I felt like a big phony, to tell you the truth.”

As a wannabe member who never was, Feeley voted in the historic election that elevated now-Speaker Nancy Pelosi to minority leader. But he opted out of a lot of the events held during orientation week. Instead of a candlelit tour of the Capitol, he went to see Michael Jordan play basketball.

Brown and Kilroy, this year’s Democratic members-in-waiting, aren’t allowed to participate in leadership votes this week. 

They’ve also been excluded from the office space lottery, although they’ve given the staffers responsible for office decisions some guidance on what they’d like if they make it back.

“I think we’re being treated the same as our opponent,” Stivers said. “This week is all about being ready. Making sure we are ready when we get here, regardless of who wins.”

Still, Kilroy acknowledged that the situation is emotionally complicated.

“You have to hold back a little bit,” she said. “You can’t go too far down the road of excitement or celebration.”

Or get too connected to that government-issued Black­Berry. At the end of this week, the four not-quite-members will have to give theirs back.

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