DES MOINES – It’s far from surprising that Secretary of State Chet Culver found his way to politics and elective office, after a life he concedes “was a front row seat to the Democratic process.”

Culver, 40, was born in Washington, because his father, John, was in his second term representing northeast Iowa in Congress. He would serve 10 years in the House of Representatives, before winning a term in the U.S. Senate.

For most of his formative years, Culver spent the bulk of his time in Washington, though the family maintained a home in MacGregor, in northeast Iowa, where they spent summers. He went to high school in Maryland before winning a football scholarship to Virginia Tech.

“I wanted to play at Iowa, that was kind of my goal,” said Culver. “Virginia Tech offered me a scholarship and Iowa didn’t.”

Culver’s father lost the 1980 election to Sen. Chuck Grassley, and remained in Washington, but Chet Culver headed back home after graduating from college in 1988.

Initially, he went to work for the Iowa Democratic Party as a field staffer in Republican-dominated western Iowa, and then went to work for Bonnie Campbell’s bid for attorney general in 1990. When she won election, Culver began work in the attorney general’s office, while earning a master’s degree from Drake University.

That led to a teaching stint at two high schools in Des Moines.

“It was something I had thought a lot about,” said Culver. “I really had a passion for public service, obviously, and for teaching. My grandfather and my grandmother on my mother’s side taught in the Cedar Rapids public schools for 35 years and they had a big influence on me.”

During that stint, Culver also coached and launched athletic programs for underprivileged youth at the local YMCA and Homes of Oakridge, a public housing project.

Teaching government at Des Moines’ Hoover High School, Culver sought to get students involved in elections.

“I brought in candidates frequently, and we would encourage them to volunteer on campaigns and work for the political parties,” said Culver. “We had a lot of interest.”