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Jim Zeigler is an American lawyer and politician from the state of Alabama . He is the current State Auditor of Alabama .
Career
Zeigler served as the president of the Student Government Association at the University of Alabama in the 1970s, where he was impeached for misconduct.[ 1] He won a position on the Alabama Public Service Commission in 1974, at the age of 24. He did not run for reelection in 1978.[ 2] He ran for state office unsuccessfully six times, three as a Democrat , and three as a Republican , losing elections for the state Board of Education in 1978, Supreme Court of Alabama in 1982, State Treasurer of Alabama in 1986, the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals in 1996, Public Service Commission in 1998, and State Auditor of Alabama in 2002. These close losses earned him the nickname "Mr. 49 Percent".[ 3] [ 4] In 2006, Zeigler announced the end of his political activism, as he resigned from the Conservative Christians of Alabama and the League of Christian Voters , two political action committees for which he served as chairman.[ 4]
Zeigler ran for State Auditor in 2014. In the Republican primary, Zeigler faced Dale Peterson, candidate for Agriculture Commissioner in 2010 ; Adam Thompson, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Alabama Secretary of State's office; and Hobbie Sealy, former Deputy Conservation Commissioner. Zeigler won a runoff against Peterson, and defeated Miranda Joseph, the Democratic Party nominee, in the general election.[ 3] In 2015, Zeigler filed lawsuits against Luther Strange , the Attorney General of Alabama , and Baldwin County, Alabama schools to stop them from spending taxpayer money on political campaigns.[ 5] The suits were dismissed.[ 6]
Following the Charleston church shooting in June 2015, Zeigler advocated that parishioners take their guns to church.[ 7] Zeigler gave a speech to the League of the South , termed a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center , in September 2015.[ 8] [ 9] In March 2016, Zeigler filed an ethics complaint against Robert J. Bentley , the Governor of Alabama , for allegedly using state funds in an extramarital affair.[ 10]
Electoral history
Alabama Court of Civil Appeals Justice Republican Primary Election, 1996
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Bill Thompson
86,545
50.40
Republican
Jim Zeigler
85,161
49.60
Alabama Public Service Commissioner Republican Primary Election, 1998
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
George Wallace Jr.
184,333
59.05
Republican
Jim Zeigler
94,968
30.42
Republican
(first name not given) Lyon
32,888
10.53
Alabama Auditor Republican Primary Election, 2002
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Jim Zeigler
123,279
42.9
Republican
Beth Chapman
82,013
28.6
Republican
Pat Duncan
51,553
18.0
Republican
Meredith Mayes
30,279
10.5
Alabama Auditor Republican Primary Runoff Election, 2002
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Beth Chapman
73,118
52.56
Republican
Jim Zeigler
65,983
47.44
Alabama Auditor Republican Primary Election, 2014
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Jim Zeigler
164,002
47.07
Republican
Dale Peterson
84,828
24.35
Republican
Adam Thompson
64,688
18.57
Republican
Hobbie Sealy
34,910
10.02
Alabama Auditor Republican Primary Runoff Election, 2014
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Jim Zeigler
131,637
65
Republican
Dale Peterson
71,141
35
Alabama Auditor Election, 2014
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Jim Zeigler
716,122
62.93
Democratic
Miranda Joseph
420,843
36.98
Write-ins
Write-ins
1,010
0.09
References
^ "The Tuscaloosa News - Google News Archive Search" . google.com . Retrieved October 12, 2015 .
^ "Jim Zeigler, Alabama's new auditor, vows 'there is a new sheriff in Montgomery' " . AL.com . Retrieved October 12, 2015 .
^ a b "Jim Zeigler elected Alabama state auditor over Democrat Miranda Joseph" . AL.com . Retrieved October 12, 2015 .
^ a b "The Tuscaloosa News - Google News Archive Search" . google.com . Retrieved October 12, 2015 .
^ "Auditor Jim Zeigler files lawsuit against AG's office, Baldwin County Schools: 'It's an Alabama issue' " . AL.com . Retrieved October 12, 2015 .
^ "Judge dismisses lawsuit by state auditor against attorney general, Baldwin County school officials" . AL.com . Retrieved October 12, 2015 .
^ "Alabama auditor Jim Zeigler has a message for churchgoers: Bring your gun" . AL.com . Retrieved October 12, 2015 .
^ "SPLC critical of Zeigler's meeting with 'hate group' " . The Montgomery Advertiser . September 27, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2015 .
^ Nick Lough (October 1, 2015). "WAFF 48 Investigates: State auditor has ties to hate group" . fox10tv.com . Retrieved October 12, 2015 .
^ Koplowitz, Howard (March 25, 2016). "Jim Zeigler files ethics complaints against Gov. Robert Bentley, Rebekah Caldwell Mason" . AL.com . Retrieved March 27, 2016 .
External links
Statewide political officials of
Alabama U.S. senators State government
Kay Ivey , Governor
Will Ainsworth , Lieutenant Governor
Wes Allen , Secretary of State
Steve Marshall , Attorney General
Young Boozer , Treasurer
Andrew Sorrell , Auditor
Rick Pate , Agriculture Commissioner
Chip Beeker , Twinkle Cavanaugh , and Jeremy Oden , Public Service Commissioners
Senate House Supreme Court
Political party affiliations :
▌ 21 Republican (21 states)
▌ 18 Democratic (16 states, 1 territory, 1 district)
▌ 17 nonpartisan (13 states, 4 territories)