Time for Change
April 30th, 2008
Weather report: Despite heavy snow last week, increasing daylight suggests a growing likelihood of summer. Political Forecast: Alaskans ready for new leadership and new direction. That’s what I heard over the last couple of weeks as I criss-crossed the state, from Nome to the Mat-Su and the Kenai. I heard it from seniors and I heard it from students.
Supporting Victims of Exxon Valdez
February 29th, 2008
On February 26, Ethan stood with other Alaskans in Washington DC, including Governor Sarah Palin, to urge the Supreme Court to do the right thing. The message was clear - Alaskans are united in support of the 33,000 spill victims who have waited too long for Exxon to honor its promise and pay the debt it owes.
Letter to Alaska Wilderness Recreation & Tourism Association members
February 19th, 2008
Self-sufficiency and safe, health communities: these are some of my priorities. Alaska and the rest of the United States needs a leader with a strategy for addressing climate change, a leader with a vision for leadership in renewable energy & sustainable development. We need a leader who will address health care needs for small business and everyday Americans.
Congratulations SWAMC on 20 Years
February 2nd, 2008
To all Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference Members: It was a pleasure to join you at SWAMC’s 20th Annual Conference. The anniversary brings back memories of my experiences with the region.
This is an exciting time
January 31st, 2008
Next week, “Super Tuesday” comes to visit, and it’s our turn to participate in the presidential primaries. This is our chance to speak out for the candidate we support and the change we want, and I hope Alaska sets record levels of participation. I look forward to enthusiastic, positive and respectful discussion. That’s a hallmark of a healthy democracy. It helps that there is a strong field of contenders this year.
Letter to the NEA-Alaska 52nd Annual Delegate Assembly
January 26th, 2008
Thank you for doing what you do. As the grandson, son and husband of teachers, I appreciate the effort that you make and the passion you bring to your profession. We share a hope and a faith that education makes a huge difference in a person’s life and has tremendous value to our community. That’s why I like what Henry Adams said: “A teacher affects eternity.”
Climate Change & the Energy Bill
December 20th, 2007
Climate change is one of the most significant issues facing current and future generations of Alaskans. For us, the impacts of global warming are real and personal. We’ve seen changing temperatures and chemistry in the ocean alter our fisheries. In the face of melting permafrost we’ve cut back tundra travel essential to oil and gas exploration and development. We’ve responded as storms pound coastal communities that were once protected with sea ice, and we’ve suffered unprecedented forest fires aggravated by lightning strikes and massive beetle kills.
Ethan Berkowitz leads in new DailyKos poll
December 11th, 2007
Big news from the national political blog Daily Kos. They commissioned a poll and released its results on December 10: Ethan Berkowitz has a strong seven point lead over Don Young.
Why I’m Running
October 9th, 2007
Imagine Alaska the way it can be. Remember America the way it’s supposed to be. I can, and I do, and that’s why I’m running for the United States Congress.
Be self-reliant — produce energy we can afford
October 16th, 2006
As Alaskans, we pride ourselves for being an “energy state,” but we pay too much for energy. This problem hits rural Alaska particularly hard, packing an added punch because communities already suffer from the loss of municipal assistance and revenue sharing, and our seniors have had their Longevity Bonuses taken away. While the state treasury counts billions in extra cash from the high price of oil, rural heating bills have gone through the roof, and in hub communities gas at the pump costs almost $5/gallon. In the most unfortunate cases, elders have had to chose between heating and eating, and some villages report paying almost $1 per kilowatt hour, ten times the price in Anchorage. That’s why it’s important that the debate over the gasline include solutions that will lead to lower cost energy.
