Former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes, a candidate for Missouri’s 6th Congressional District, was interviewed this morning on KCPT-Channel 19’s “Week in Review” segment with Nick Haines, which airs tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Sam Graves, the incumbent Republican congressman, was a no-show. Haines said Graves was invited months ago to debate Barnes in what has become one of the most contentious and feisty races in the metro area. Graves declined.

So Barnes, a Democrat, simply explained her positions and took jabs at Graves for 15 minutes. She said that, even though the Democratic members of Kansas City’s congressional delegation voted for the recent $700 billion bailout, she would have “very reluctantly” voted against it, partly because she opposes all the wasteful add-ons that were tacked on to the bill that finally passed. She also says 6th District voters she’s talked to were furious about the bailout.

(In interviews, Graves gives a similar answer for why he voted against the bailout).

Barnes said voters crave change, and Graves is part of the Washington establishment that needs to go. She said he has repeatedly voted in favor of subsidies for big oil and companies that ship jobs overseas, while opposing regulation and oversight for the nation’s financial institutions.

She rebutted a charge from the Graves camp that she’s partly to blame for the economic mess because she served on Fannie Mae’s National Advisory Board from March 2002 to Oct. 2003. Barnes said she had a strictly advisory role during about 15 to 20 hours of discussions, while Graves has spent eight years in Congress with numerous opportunities to bring more accountability to the financial sector.

She said blaming her was “ludicrous” _ like the captain of the Titanic blaming a passenger for the ship’s collision with an iceberg.

Barnes was asked on the show about her liberal social views, which are to the left of many in the Republican-leaning 6th District. She said she is pro-choice but supports fewer abortions and more adoption. Regarding her vote as mayor to support domestic partner benefits for city employees in same-sex relationships, she said she believes that is an issue of “fairness.”

As to why he refused to debate, Graves campaign spokesman Ryan Steusloff said Graves has already agreed to several debates, and KCPT wasn’t one of them.

“The candidate behind in the polls always thinks more debates will turn their desperate, negative and losing campaign around,” he said.

The 6th District covers a huge geographic area, encompassing Clay and Platte counties, a small part of Jackson County, and rural areas stretching to the Iowa border.

Although Graves refused to debate Barnes on television, the candidates will debate on a few occasions this month. The first debate is scheduled Oct. 16 at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph. The second debate is Oct. 21 at the Embassy Suites near KCI, 7640 NW Tiffany Springs Parkway. That debate is sponsored by the Northland Chamber and charges a $25 fee for lunch for anyone wanting to attend.