With the 2008 elections approaching, US Congressional incumbents and their challengers put Nome as an early checkpoint on their campaign trail map, beginning their pre-campaign visits to the bush. Ethan Berkowitz, Anchorage Democratic challenger, spent two days in Nome last week, and sat in on the joint Kawerak Inc. and Norton Sound Health Corporation board meeting at the Mini Convention Center on April 9.

Ethan visited Nome and attended the joint Kawerak/Norton Sound board meeting to hear about community action on the challenges faced by rural communities, talked with the local newspaper and radio station, visited several kennels and enjoyed dog mushing so much that he missed his plane home.