URBANDALE, Iowa — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney told an Iowa audience Thursday that he is disappointed in the ethical lapses of some Republicans.

“I think we’re going to have to find a way to demand a higher standard. There is no excuse for unethical conduct on the part of people who go to Washington to serve this country,” he said.

Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, said public servants who commit crimes or violate ethics rules should be stripped of their government pensions.

Romney said his comment about ethics is not aimed at any particular Republican.

Romney also spoke about immigration, taking aim at so-called “sanctuary cities” where local officials choose not to enforce immigration laws. He said he would deny those cities federal discretionary funding unless they agree to change course.

“It doesn’t seem appropriate to me that the taxpayers of America are sending hundreds of millions, even billions, of dollars to these cities and (city officials are) saying they’re not going to enforce the law,” Romney said.

He listed New York and Los Angeles as two of many sanctuary cities.

In July, Romney attacked rival candidate Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor, for his role in making New York a sanctuary city.

Romney spoke to an overflow crowd Thursday morning at an Urbandale restaurant. The audience ate scrambled eggs and cinnamon rolls as they listened to the candidate. The Romney campaign hopes that many of those people will come out on Aug. 11 at the Iowa Straw Poll in Ames.

Andrea Bailey, a health-care worker from Mitchellville, said she plans to go to the straw poll and support Romney. She said she likes the way he emphasizes the importance of marriage and family.

“I just think he says what he means, not what he thinks people want to hear,” she said.

Dan Gearino can be contacted at  (515) 243-0138 or dan.gearino@lee.net.