Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar is opening an office in Moorhead.

The freshman Democrat said its part of a "regionalization project" to improve communication in strategic parts of the state.

The Moorhead office will handle issues for the northwest part of the state. She has offices in St. Paul and Rochester and an office is planned for the Iron Range.

A site has not yet been picked in Moorhead, but Klobuchar expects to have the office open in a month. Andy Martin, a former staffer for Minnesota 7th District Rep. Collin Peterson, will run the office.

The Nevis native "knows the area ... and he knows a lot of the ag issues. With the farm bill up this year, that's critical," she said.

Sen. Norm Coleman opened a Moorhead office last year at 810 4th Ave. S., the first senator to do so in recent memory, Mayor Mark Voxland said.

"This is obviously great that Sen. Klobuchar has decided that this would be great for her, too." Voxland said. "We know Andy, and he's a good guy to work with."

Klobuchar, who was elected in November for the seat formerly held by Democrat Mark Dayton, sits on the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee; Environment and Public Works Committee; Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee; and the Joint Economic Committee.