Berkowitz’s integrity, coupled with a lively intelligence and 10 years of experience as a lawmaker in Juneau, qualifies him to give Alaska new, strong representation in the U.S. House. He is the right candidate to replace the ethically compromised and regularly outrageous Don Young.

Berkowitz’s integrity, coupled with a lively intelligence and 10 years of experience as a lawmaker in Juneau, qualifies him to give Alaska new, strong representation in the U.S. House. He is the right candidate to replace the ethically compromised and regularly outrageous Don Young.

The Anchorage Daily News asked Alaska candidates for Congress their views on a variety of issues. We are publishing Ethan’s responses as the Daily News releases the Q&As between now and Election Day.

State Rep. Beth Kerttula had eight years of firsthand experience sizing up the political qualifications of Ethan Berkowitz. Kerttula, a five-term Juneau Democrat and daughter of longtime state senator Jay Kerttula, sat next to Berkowitz on the state House floor. “Ethan is a tremendous leader,” Kerttula said. “He’s a natural leader. He’s fun. He cares about people. He’s all the good things a leader is and he has great compassion and perspective.”

Berkowitz is an anchorage businessman and attorney who served ten years as a state representative. He spoke with KFSK radio about a variety of issues late last week by phone. Matt Lichtenstein started off by asking Berkowitz for his opinion on congress’s 700 billion dollar bailout plan for the financial industry:

Ethan Berkowitz, running against Don Young for Alaska’s sole seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, had a clear message for the incumbent at Wednesday’s debate in Kenai — “Don, I’m not staying home, I’m going to the House, you’re going home.”

“So here’s my vote. Obama, Begich and Berkowitz. Because they represent a new direction and a chance to right this ship of state before it sinks under the weight of socialism for the rich, pre-emptive wars and divisive hatemongering that sets neighbor against neighbor and destroys that which has made our country great — the belief that everyone has a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Alaska could see a generational shift in its Congressional delegation this year. Sen. Ted Stevens is in the fight for his political life after his conviction last week, and in the U.S. House race incumbent Don Young faces a serious challenge from former state House Minority Leader Ethan Berkowitz.

This is no time for litmus tests of party loyalty, for abandoning our own. But we must make one exception: good conscience compels us to advise Alaskans not to vote for Ted Stevens for Senate or Don Young for the at-large House seat in Alaska.

Berkowitz said that while his campaign will continue to focus on issues relevant to the Interior, primarily energy, there was still nothing to be taken for granted. “We need to do more than we’ve done already to make sure we win on election day,” he said. “This election is ours, and I can see the end of it from my house.”