The man challenging Gov. Chet Culver for the Democratic Party’s nomination has won the endorsement of a prominent voice in the Quad-City African-American and religious communities.

The Rev. Rogers Kirk endorsed Jonathan Narcisse on Wednesday, saying he has the ability to bring people together, and that he likes his ideas to improve education and the economy.

“This guy has what it takes,” Kirk said. “I know his faith. He’s not one who quits.”

Narcisse, a former school board member from Des Moines, announced his candidacy about two weeks ago.

He has said that even if he doesn’t win the party’s nomination, he’ll be on the ballot in the fall.

Narcisse called Kirk a statewide leader and said his endorsement shows he can draw support beyond the Des Moines and Waterloo areas, where he hosts a radio program.

 “We think this is a very important piece of the puzzle,” Narcisse said.

Kirk said he’s known Narcisse for about 15 years, when he became concerned about how minorities were faring in the state’s education system.

A publisher of weekly newspapers, Narcisse has been an advocate in the education field for several years.

Kirk is the pastor at Third Missionary Baptist Church, Davenport, and he has been active in Democratic politics, too.

He held outreach positions in President Obama’s campaign in Iowa, and he was the Scott County co-chairman of U.S. Sen. John Kerry’s presidential campaign in 2004.