Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chet Culver says he would have signed into law the bill passed this spring by legislators that would have limited local governments’ authority to seize private property.

Yet Culver also says he supports Governor Tom Vilsack’s decision to veto that same bill. “I supported the governor’s veto because I believe that (legislators) need to come back for a special session and get it resolved,” Culver says. “That’s what the governor wants to do…and that’s, you know, what I have said consistently on this issue.”

Culver says he believes something more must be done to limit governments from seizing property for economic development projects. “I think what we need to do now is bring (legislators) back for a special session and get the differences worked out,” Culver says.

Culver suggested he’s being a “team player” by not calling for an override of Vilsack’s veto. “I am trying to advocate for the rights of the property owners in this state and it’s…very simple. The governor wants to strike a better balance and he’s the governor at this point,” Culver says. “The solution that he is advocating for is to bring them back and try and get this resolved and I think that’s what we need to do.” Culver says “in all likelihood” he would have signed the bill passed by legislators this spring, though.

Also today, Culver is calling on Des Moines City Councilman Archie Brooks to resign because of his connection with the pay scandal at a federally-funded central Iowa job training program. Brooks has already resigned his post as chairman of the board that ran CIETC — the Central Iowa Employment and Training Consortium.

“It’s a matter of the public trust. We need to move forward,” Culver says. “We need to start fresh and start over.” Republicans lay the blame for the CIETC pay scandal at the feet of Polk County Democrats like Brooks and Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Nussle is running a campaign ad vowing to clean up the corruption. This morning during taping of an Iowa Public Television program, Culver struck back.

“I’m sure they’re going to look for any opportunity they can to talk about ethics especially since Jim Nussle has been a part of the culture of corruption in Washington, D.C. I mean he has been a loyal foot soldier in the army of Tom Delay and George Bush and Dick Cheney…It’s an attempt to perhaps divert and that shouldn’t be part of a gubernatorial campaign,” Culver said. “What voters are looking towards candidates to do is to talk about the future.”