Two prominent Democrats spoke Saturday about their potential bids at the governor’s seat in 2006 amid the festivities of the Story County Democrats’ Annual Soup Supper.

Secretary of State Chet Culver and state Rep. Ed Fallon, D-Des Moines, addressed the audience, each calling for support of their campaign and outlining their goals for the future of Iowa.

Culver focused on education as the future of Iowa. He outlined his experience as a teacher and coach and how they have given him perspective on what needs to happen with education in Iowa.

He discussed his work as secretary of state in regard to voter turnout, one of his top priorities, and how it caused him to run for public office.

“I ran because I believe public service allows groups and individuals, as Martin Luther King Jr. encouraged us, to become the change that you want to see,” he said.

Culver also said Iowa needs to redouble its commitment to education and expressed his disapproval of the rising tuition at Iowa State.

In his closing remarks, he asked for his party’s support and input.

“I’m thinking about a bid for governor because I love this state and I love the people of Iowa,” he said.

Fallon expressed frustration about important issues being ignored by state Republicans.

“Because of the passion that I have and the frustration I’m feeling as one of 150 lawmakers, I’m going to run for governor in 2006,” Fallon said.

He said a strength that would aid him in running for governor is the knowledge of how to run a campaign, even when he has less funding than the people he’s running against.

“As a matter of principle, I have never and I do not accept money from political action committees, even though some of those are my friends,” he said.

“It fires people up when they know they have a candidate that has not been bought and paid for — that rings very strongly for people.”

Pivotal issues summarized by Fallon were education at all levels, health care and affordable prescriptions for all Iowans and his disapproval for tax breaks for big companies, like Wal-Mart. He also focused on economic development with an emphasis on small business.

Gov. Tom Vilsack has said he will not run for re-election.