MARSHALL - The "Seifert for Governor" signs were displayed behind him, but it was the District 21A House seat Rep. Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, wanted to talk about Thursday morning in Marshall.

Seifert will not seek an eighth term as the District 21A Representative. Seifert is considered by many as the Republican frontrunner in the race to replace Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who is not seeking re-election.

While Seifert said he was confident and hopeful in his chances to win the election for governor, if he lost, he said would not return to the House.

"We've talked about this for maybe a year," Seifert said of he and his family, including his wife Traci who was at Thursday's news conference.

Seifert said he made his decision "before Governor Tim Pawlenty announced he was not running for re-election."

He is interested in the governor's office but not in any U.S. House or Senate seat, Seifert said.

District 21A officials will now form a search committee to find candidates who may replace Seifert in the House.

"This person will not run on (Seifert's) coattails," Lyon County Republican Party Chairman Bob Meffert of Marshall said.

Seifert has won each of the past seven elections with 60 or more percent of the vote.

Yet, "it's going to have to be earned," Seifert said of his seat.

Meffert said the district has voted for Democrats U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Democrat U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson so while Seifert has won handily, that's not a guarantee for the next Republican candidate.

"The reason he keeps winning with 68 to 70 percent of the vote is because he fits the district so well," David Sturrock said. Sturrock is a former Marshall City Council member and ran against Peterson in the 7th District. U. S. House race in 2004.

When asked if he'd consider running for Seifert's seat, Sturrock said, "it depends on the family situation." Sturrock has two young children.

As to Seifert's successor, no names were dropped by Seifert, Meffert or Lyon County Republican treasurer and former state senator Arlene Lesewski.

"If we could, we'd find another Marty," Lesewski said.

Seifert said his political career started when he worked on Lesewski's 1992 campaign. Seifert was elected in 1996 and the two formed a working partnership in the Legislature.

"When Marty and I talked before he was elected we talked about old timers in the Legislature," Lesewski said. "It's one thing to retain knowledge but it gets in the way (for some)," Lesewski said. "He and I talked about 10-year term limits. Ten years is about long enough."

Seifert will have served 14 years when his term ends in 2010.

He's continued to serve well in those 14 years, supporters said, because he remains focused, honest and aware of his district.

Rick Bot of Minneota said Seifert "was a man of his word" and praised his "clearsightedness."

On a morning when the rain was falling in Marshall, Seifert said the flood control project in Marshall for which he helped get legislation passed in 1997 was "among the most impactful" pieces of legislation he worked on.

"Marshall has not been under water since," Seifert said.

Seifert also cited successful bills that resulted in a new student center and other features after a fire at Southwest Minnesota State University and the debt equalization bill that made it more affordable to build new schools in the Lakeview District in Cottonwood and in Marshall.

"There have been some bumps in the road in the Legislature but it's been successful," Seifert said.

He's been the author of 27 bills that became laws and more than 80 where he's been a co-author, Seifert said. The bills have saved taxpayers money, improved government and helped rural areas, he said.

While the signs for the governor's race were behind him as he spoke and Seifert mentioned two terms as governor, Seifert said almost as a promise, "my heart is here." Win or lose the governor's race, eventually he'd be back in Marshall.