Jonathan Narcisse wants in on the gubernatorial debates with Gov. Chet Culver and former Gov. Terry Branstad. Narcisse announced Friday he’s started a drive, “Iowans For A Fair Debate,” with an online petition to include the third-party candidate for governor in the debates this fall.

Narcisse is a former Polk County Democratic Party Chair, Des Moines School Board member and owns multiple Iowa media outlets. He originally launched a campaign to challenge incumbent Culver for the Democratic nomination, but switched to running independently on the “Iowa Party” ticket.

His campaign said debate organizers have not explained why Narcisse is not currently included in the three scheduled debates to take place on Sept. 14, Oct. 7 and Oct. 21.

“How can the sponsoring media, having reported on Jonathan in well over 400 media reports this past decade, ignore his candidacy when it comes to the debates?” said Fran Koontz, chairman of Narcisse For Iowa.

Walter Reed, former head of the Waterloo Human Rights Commission, heads Iowans For A Fair Debate. Reed said he’s working with Narcisse because the third-party candidate understands the growing problems in urban areas throughout Iowa.

“Now Iowa has become more urban than rural,” Reed said. “The senseless violence that took place at this year’s Iowa State Fair has garnered widespread media attention, yet those of us that live in the heart of Waterloo, Des Moines, Davenport, Cedar Rapids, Burlington and Iowa City, know this type of mass chaos is taking place nearly every weekend in our urban centers.”

Reed said Iowa’s urban areas have real challenges beyond escalating youth and gang violence in areas like housing, unemployment and education

“Every school district within Iowa’s Urban Eight is officially failing, according to the Culver administration,” Reed said. “And it is clear neither Gov. Culver or Gov. Branstad has solutions for these challenges, if they even understand them.”

As a school board member, Narcisse was known for controversy. In November 2008, the media erupted with stories over an e-mail Narcisse wrote to a Roosevelt High School student urging him to improve academically, and shared a story with the student about someone he knew who ended up giving “oral sex” on the street. The student had e-mailed the School Board seeking help getting back on the school’s wrestling team.

In May 2009 he was sued for allegedly violating a confidentiality agreement over the firing of a former union head.

However, during his time on the board he made improvements to security and a Code of Conduct was created.

A former Narcisse rival, Dick Murphy, who served as president of the school board while Narcisse was a member, said he will not endorse Narcisse but believes he should be included in the debates.

“The two major candidates have political machines that will be busy undermining their opposition,” Murphy said in a statement the Narcisse campaign released. “While [Narcisse’s] vision is of concern for me, at least he is focusing on important issues. Including him in the debates will force the other candidates to focus on the issues and not on each other.”