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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."

The two candidates traded criticisms, disagreeing on many issues brought forth at the forum, sponsored by the Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce.

"This (election) is not about the promises made by politicians," Young said. "It's about how we represent the state of Alaska."

"The idea is doing what's right for Alaska," Berkowitz said. "It doesn't matter what political party."

In reaction to Sen. Ted Stevens' conviction, Berkowitz commended him for all he has done for Alaska but said it's time for the state to move on.

Young, on the other hand, said Stevens did not receive a fair trial and was disappointed when the request to move the hearing to Alaska was denied. He said that no congressman or senator can receive a fair trial in Washington, D.C. Young said Sen. Stevens will appeal the decision, win the appeal and he should be re-elected.

Should Sen. Barack Obama become the next president, Berkowitz said being part of the Democratic party will help him in working with Obama's office. He also said that Obama's Chief of Staff, Pete Rouse, is a fellow Alaskan, which will also be helpful for future workings with Obama should he be elected.

Young said Obama will spread Americans' wealth around.

"I'm not going to be part of a party for a nation that goes socialist" he said.

The two candidates also differed on the recent $700 billion bailout.

"That bill was a transfer of power ... to buy and sell and invest and control our financial institution," Young said. "The root cause is production."

Young, who voted against the measure, said the U.S. is sending $700 billion a year to other countries to purchase fossil fuels, consequentially making our nation energy-dependent.

Young said to correct the problem our country needs to focus on production. "We've become a nation of non-production because we're hamstrung by the government."

Berkowitz said he would have "reluctantly" voted in favor of the bailout. Investment capital needs to be available for resource development, he said.

"If the banks aren't there to give money to the mining operations, the oil companies, the pipeline builders, then those actions aren't going to happen," Berkowitz said. "We need to rebuild an economy and we shouldn't give the keys to the same people that crashed it in the first place."

A lack of regulation, the concentration of wealth and having a huge deficit were three reasons for the current financial situation, according to Berkowitz. He said individual homeowners need to be protected at this time and the appropriate amount of oversight needs to occur.

"It's not more regulation," Berkowitz said, "it's the right kind of regulation."

Both Young and Berkowitz said the state needs to begin an energy relief project immediately.

Young said a bullet line is the only viable option at this time. "I think AGIA is a pipe dream," he said.

"Energy refugees are coming out of the Bush because they can't afford the price of gas, they can't afford to heat their homes," Berkowitz said. He also said that Alaska needs to have an independent pipeline operator to act as a check to the producers' power.

Young, a former teacher, said the No Child Left Behind Act needs to be reformed.

"I couldn't teach under the present No Child Left Behind and I'm a good teacher," he said.

"We've traded (children's) imagination for our accountability," Berkowitz said about the act. He said students should be taught to think critically and creativity, imagination and curiosity should be given a chance to flourish. "It's all about accountability. It's about administrators, it's not about the kids, and education is about the kids," he said.

The two candidates again clashed on the issue of providing illegal aliens the right to obtain a driver's license.

"I support the idea of everybody on the road having a driver's license," Berkowitz said. He said a license is to make certain insured and qualified drivers are on the road and to know where people are living. He said licenses cannot be converted into identity cards.

"The term 'illegal' drives me crazy," Young said. "I would not support driver's license's for (illegal aliens)."

In closing, Berkowitz said he will defeat Young in this election.

"I'm going to beat him on Tuesday and I'm going to beat him because this election is about change. Alaska is ready for change.

"We have seen too long too many people in Washington, D.C. worry about which party is going to be in power instead of which people are going to govern," Berkowitz said. "I'm a Democrat, but I'm an Alaskan first."

"It's a tiring, hard, back-breaking job which I love," Young said. "I've got more to offer you than I've ever had before," he said in closing. "I don't talk about taxes, I don't talk about death, I talk about the future of our generations."

Mike Nesper can be reached at mike.nesper@peninsulaclarion.com.