If it walks like a candidate and talks like a candidate ... chances are, it's a candidate.

While former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad stopped short of formally declaring his intention to seek his old job Monday, he left no doubt as to where his ambitions lie.

"Unofficially, I'm running," said Branstad, a Republican who held the governorship from 1983 until 1999 and has spent the past several months laying the groundwork to seek a fifth term.

This proto-campaign, said Branstad, will help him "hone his message" by gaining insight from the electorate before entering the race officially - which will likely happen in January, he said.

On Monday, Branstad spoke to various area leaders and business people.

Addressing a crowd of approximately 62 people at the Fort Dodge Noon Rotary Club meeting, Branstad explained why Iowa needs a change in leadership.

"I've been watching what's been going on at the state level, and I have real concerns about what I'm seeing," he said. "I felt I left the state in a very good position."

However, after years of Democratic administrations, the state now faces a projected budget deficit of $1 billion, Branstad said.

"Unlike the farm crisis, this was not caused by high interest rates and low commodity prices," he said. "This was caused by bad decisions that've been made by our governor and our legislators."

An increasingly partisan political atmosphere means that good ideas have been rejected because they were proposed by members of the minority party, Branstad said.

"I will work to restore our ability to work together to get things accomplished," said Branstad, who pointed to the 10 years that he, as the Republican governor, faced a Democratic-controlled Legislature.

Branstad said he would maintain personal oversight of economic development programs - thus avoiding costly debacles like the Iowa film tax credit program, which was suspended earlier this year in the wake of allegations of mismanagement.

"I will work day in and day out to bring jobs and industry to the state of Iowa," he said.

Branstad said he would work to remove impediments to businesses locating and expanding within the state.

"Iowa's tax on commercial property is among the top five in the country," he said. "Culver promised to do something about it, but he's done absolutely nothing."

Branstad faulted the Legislature for considering a series of what he called job-killing bills in the last session, including a measure that would require a set wage for government-funded construction projects.

"If I'm governor, these would face a sure veto," said Branstad. The 2009 bill was defeated in the Iowa House of Representatives after a vote that lasted nearly 68 hours.

As governor, Branstad said he would seek ways in which state government can operate more efficiently through a comprehensive review of spending.

"We need to look at programs started long ago that may have outlived their usefulness," he said.

Branstad said he would work to return Iowa to a "pay-as-you-go" system, in which expenditures would not exceed revenues.

That includes supporting an amendment to the Iowa Constitution limiting state spending to 99 percent of projected revenue.

That law is currently on the books, but Branstad said it has been routinely ignored.

"I think we need to put in some constitutional protections so the Legislature can not circumvent it," he said. "There are some Democrats who think you can borrow your way to prosperity."

Branstad also favors bringing a constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage to the voters, he said.

On April 2, the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the state's same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional.

Branstad said he was "deeply disappointed" in the court's decision.

Authoring the court's opinion was Justice Mark Cady - a Branstad appointee.

However, Branstad defended his appointment of Cady, whom he described as intelligent and fair.

Unlike at the national level, candidates for the Iowa Supreme Court are selected by the non-partisan Iowa Judicial Nominating Commission, who are then presented to the governor for final selection.

"I personally interviewed every one of them," Branstad said.

Also unlike the U.S. Supreme Court, Iowa's justices are subject to retention elections. In 2010, three justices, including Branstad-appointed Chief Justice Marsha Ternus, will face the voters.

Unlike at least one of his opponents for the Republican gubernatorial nomination - Iowa Sen. Jerry Behn, of Boone - Branstad said he would not advocate voting against retention of the justices.

"That is a personal decision every voter needs to make," he said.

Contact Jesse Helling at (515) 573-2141 or jhelling@messengernews.net