A Washington-based environmental group on Tuesday put Northwest Missouri’s congressman on the grimy side of green issues.

The League of Conservation Voters made U.S. Rep. Sam Graves part of its election-year “Dirty Dozen,” a designation promising financial help for his opponent before November’s voting.

Tony Massaro, senior vice president of the group, visited St. Joseph on Tuesday to talk about Mr. Graves having voted only 4 percent of the time in favor of environment-friendly legislation.

“He has a particularly bad record,” said Mr. Massaro. “He’s even out of step with other Republicans.”

The Graves campaign, in a re-election fight with Democrat Kay Barnes, discounted the designation and the group that sanctioned it.

“The League of Conservation Voters is nothing more than the extreme environmental arm of the Democratic Party,” said Ryan Steusloff, communications director for the Graves team. “They are simply doing Kay Barnes’ dirty work by launching a partisan political attack.”

Mr. Massaro made specific reference to Mr. Graves’ January 2007 vote against removing royalties and tax incentives to oil and gas companies. He cited a similar vote in February of this year, as well as votes against clean energy.

“He’s behind where the industry is, and he’s behind where the voters are,” the group’s official said.

While the League regards itself as non-partisan, its 2008 endorsements reflect a Democratic leaning. Of the seven Senate candidates endorsed, all are Democrats. Of the 25 representative candidates endorsed, four are Republicans.

The organization has endorsed Ms. Barnes in the 6th District race. Mr. Massaro said Mr. Graves’ “Dirty Dozen” status means the League will offer financial backing to the Barnes campaign.

Campaign

offices open

Area candidates and parties are organizing as the November general election approaches.

Buchanan County Republicans are set to open their St. Joseph headquarters on Wednesday, while a Democratic challenger in the 28th Missouri House of Representatives District race is planning a grand opening on Thursday in Savannah, Mo.

The Buchanan County Republican Central Committee will open its headquarters, located at 26th Street and Frederick Avenue, at 4 p.m. today.

Mr. Graves, R-Tarkio, will be the keynote speaker, and other statewide and local Republican candidates are expected to attend. Buchanan County’s Democratic headquarters opened earlier at the Montee Law Firm in St. Joseph at 520 Francis St.

Mark Sheehan, who’s taking on Rep. Dr. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, for his seat in the Missouri House, is inviting the public to the grand opening of his headquarters in the south side of the Savannah square from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

The space is located at 412 Court St. Mr. Sheehan will keep the headquarters open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays and 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays. He can be reached by phone there at (816) 324-0111.

Ken Newton can be reached at kenn@npgco.com. Alyson E. Raletz can be reached at alysonraletz@npgco.com.