Former Anchorage Representative Ethan Berkowitz says this country is having a Jeffersonian moment and is ready to embrace change. He is hoping to ride that wave of change directly to the U.S. Congress. Deanna Garrison sat down with the Democratic candidate during his visit to Ketchikan on Saturday and filed this report.

Celtic Diva’s Blue Oasis sent Ethan several questions for her blog. The questions covered topics ranging from the war in Iraq to energy policy to veterans. Read Ethan’s answers here.

Many Alaskans are feeling bitter about the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision Wednesday to slash the amount of punitive damages Exxon Mobil Corp. must pay for the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. “Exxon has made billions of dollars off our North Slope oil. What we must demand in return is to be treated fairly,” said Ethan Berkowitz.

Today, Congressional candidate Ethan Berkowitz announced the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign, one of the nation’s largest human rights advocacy organizations.

“Today’s Supreme Court decision is an important step in affirming the constitutional rights of American gun owners. The Constitution fundamentally protects the ability of an individual to bear arms, and today’s ruling is tailored to ensure that law-abiding citizens maintain their ability to exercise that right. This ruling also echoes our Alaska Constitution, which states in Article I, Section 19: ‘The individual right to keep and bear arms shall not be denied or infringed by the State or a political subdivision of the State.’”

No American should ever feel fear because of what they are. When I represent our state in Washington, D.C., I will fight to ensure that all Americans are treated fairly by their government in their communities, schools, workplaces and homes. That fairness is part of who we are as Americans. Our nation’s creed holds that all people are created equal.

Democratic candidates for Congress stuck largely to energy issues — and, when the chance arose, blasted incumbent Republican Rep. Don Young — at a Sunday night debate in Fairbanks. Berkowitz said lower energy costs would leave people with more money to invest, spend and put their kids through school. “It doesn’t matter to me if it’s gas coming down from the North Slope or renewables or maybe some kind of technology that we’re just learning about today,” he said. “Let’s start doing it for ourselves.”

In his pursuit of the House seat held for 35 colorful years by Alaska’s Republican Rep. Don Young, Democratic legislator Ethan Berkowitz turned to the northern equivalent of kissing babies: He gamely jumped on a sled and hustled a team of dogs over the Iditarod trail.

Today, the Alaska AFL-CIO - the largest federation of labor unions and trade councils in the state - announced its endorsement of Ethan Berkowitz in the upcoming August election. The Alaska AFL-CIO is made up of 20 different unions representing Alaskan workers in professions as diverse as firefighters, machinists, nurses and cement masons.

When Ethan Berkowitz talks about his policy ideas—those he’ll push if he’s successful in his run for Don Young’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives—he talks fast and excitedly, like an Energizer bunny in high gear. Which is appropriate, because energy policy is one of his overriding passions.