BOSTON -- Gov. Mitt Romney is concluding his first year in office and is now mapping out his strategy for next year.

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Janet Wu Sits Down With Governor What Do You Think Of Year One?

The governor sat down with NewsCenter Five's Janet Wu and talked about his future political ambitions, his next battle at the Statehouse, and, for the first time, clarifies his position on gay marriages.

Until now, Romney had remained ambiguous on where he stood on civil unions for same sex couples.

"My preference is let's have a domestic partnership benefit that goes to non-traditional couples," said Romney. "And civil unions go beyond that, but if the (state) Supreme Court requires that and says you must have a civil union or a marriage, you must make a choice, one or the other, then my preference between those would be civil union. But that is not my preference overall. My preference overall would be neither civil union or marriage."

The Legislature hopes the courts will accept civil unions as a substitute for gay marriage.

According to political experts, since taking office in January, no other issue threatens Romney's political future more than gay marriage. A recent University of Massachusetts poll asked voters who they trusted to make the decision on gay marriage, More than half of the respondents said the courts would make the best decision, 20 percent said the state Legislature, and only 10 percent cited the governor.

Nationally, however, the issue plays very differently.

"I've covered a number of governors here at the State House. I have never seen quite as large of an advance team as you have, and always get the sense you are prepping for the White House. Am I wrong about that?" asked Wu.

"Yes," Romney replied.

"You are not interested in running for the presidency in 2008?" asked Wu.

"Things change in politics. You never say, 'I'd never do this,' or 'I'll always do that,'" said Romney.

Wu told the governor he hadn't answered her question.

"I'm focusing on the job I've got to do ahead of me," said Romney. "I'm not going to rule out anything."

According to Romney, balancing the budget without taxes and forcing the removal of William Bulger as the University of Massachusetts president are among his greatest accomplishments.

Romney's next fight appears to be with unions who began running a new radio ad challenging the governor this week.

"It is fair to ask the governor, 'Where are the new companies?' 'Where are the jobs?' For that matter, where is the governor?" the ad asked.

"(New companies) want me to raise taxes on the rest of the working families in the commonwealth so they can make more money. I am not going to do that," said Romney.

Romney also issued a warning to Massachusetts Turnpike Authority Chairman Matt Amorello, who has been embroiled in several controversies pitting him against the governor.

"Matt Armelllo at the Turnpike Authority has a long-term contract. I don't like this idea of giving long-term contracts to people who are working on the government's behalf," said Romney.

Romney said next year's goals include consolidating the transportation department and the court system.