Skip Southworth, Forrest Dunbar and Dennis Robinson talk politics at Unalaska's Burma Road Chapel. (Annie Ropeik/KUCB)

The Democrat who’s running to unseat U.S. Rep. Don Young was in Unalaska this week, trying to build a base of support.

Forrest Dunbar met a handful of constituents and local leaders at a forum Monday night. Turnout was low, but Dunbar wasn’t discouraged:

"You know, there’s a lure for candidates to stay in Juneau, Anchorage, Fairbanks, because that’s where the most fundraising is, and that’s where a lot of people live," he said at the meet and greet. "But it’s really important to me, coming from a rural background … to get off the road system and go to smaller communities and go to the hub communities."

He identifies Unalaska as a hub for fisheries and oil development. Both are focuses of his campaign platform.

Unalaska city councilor Dennis Robinson was at Monday’s meet and greet, and he says he was glad Dunbar came to campaign in person. Since ethics violations have barred Rep. Young from chairing Congressional committees, Robinson thinks it’s time for a change.

"So I’m supporting Forrest, as good, fresh -- has the ability to get on committees, you know, if the chance occurs," Robinson said.

Longtime local Skip Southworth helped organize Monday’s event after meeting Dunbar at a Fourth of July festival in Juneau. He wanted the candidate to see more of Unalaska’s needs firsthand.

"He expresses a strong concern to coastal communities and the small rural communities. He’s there for them," Southworth said. "And that’s what we’ve had in the past, and that’s helped us -- new elementary school, funding for education, swimming pool -- anything that we have, you know, he’s familiar with it now, he sees what we have."

Dunbar grew up in the Cordova area. He’s been traveling to communities all around the state as part of his campaign: "We’ve already been to Nome, Dillingham, Bethel, Sitka, Ketchikan, Haines, Seward, Homer, Fairbanks and Juneau a number of times," Dunbar says. "So we’ve been traveling this summer. And I’m looking forward to getting to Kotzebue and Barrow as well."

It’s all part of trying to build some name recognition -- badly needed in a race against a four-decade incumbent. Dunbar and Young will face off in the general election in November.

Check back with KUCB for more 2014 election coverage and candidate profiles in the coming weeks.