MARSHALL COUNTY, W.Va. -- 

With Earl Ray Tomblin set to take the oath of office as the next Governor for the state of West Virginia in weeks, Acting Senate President Jeff Kessler is hoping to take another oath in the Senate chambers.

Kessler, a Democrat from Marshall County, has been serving as acting senate president since January, and it is a title he would like to keep.

"I would hope to have my name placed in nomination and in fully confident that I would be selected by our Democratic caucus and on the floor as well to preside over the Senate the next year," said Kessler.

Kessler said while the changes all stem from the death of U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd in June 2010, he said it might have taken time, but it was the people that needed to make the decisions.

"There were some acting titles during a period of time during the last year, but again the real testament I think is that the people pick their leader through an election and we've done that," said Kessler.

Kessler tells NEWS9 that a special session of the legislature has been called in for Nov. 13 to certify the votes of the October special election. He said it is possible that day to have Earl Ray Tomblin sworn in.

Looking ahead to 2012, Kessler said that he won't be running for governor, instead focusing on being Senate president again.

"It was fun, I enjoyed it, and it was an experience I will never regret. I had a lot of good folks helping me, but 2012 will not be my time to throw my hat back in the ring for governor again," said Kessler.