Summary (Optional)
Prefer audio? Listen to a short neutral overview. Then review full details and sources below.
Quick Summary
- Former Alabama State Auditor.
- Previously served on the Alabama Public Service Commission.
- Attorney and elder-care planner.
- Republican candidate for Public Service Commission Place 2.
This page uses public sources to help voters. Review the links and decide what matters most to you.
Party: Republican
Overview
Jim Zeigler is a former Alabama State Auditor, attorney, and former member of the Alabama Public Service Commission. He is running again for Place 2 on the commission, which regulates utility companies and makes decisions that can affect rates, service reliability, and large infrastructure costs across Alabama.
The Public Service Commission matters because it oversees utility companies that provide essential services to families, farms, and businesses. In practical terms, the commission can influence power bills, how new projects are paid for, and how much public accountability exists when utilities want to expand or raise rates.
Zeigler's strongest case for voters is his prior PSC experience and his broader background in government oversight. He argues that an experienced regulator is needed to keep utility decisions transparent and focused on ratepayers rather than outside interests.
What He Did
Short version: key actions and why they may matter to your vote.
-
Served as Alabama State Auditor
Action:
Zeigler served as Alabama State Auditor from 2015 through 2023 after being elected to two terms in the office.
Why it matters:
The Auditor's Office tracks state property and reviews certain government records and accountability systems.
-
Previously served on the Public Service Commission
Action:
Zeigler served on the Alabama Public Service Commission from 1974 to 1978 and is the only candidate in the 2026 Place 2 race with prior PSC experience.
Why it matters:
The commission regulates certain utility services and related industries that affect Alabama residents and businesses.
-
Legal and elder-care planning career
Action:
Zeigler has worked as an attorney and elder-care planner, helping seniors and families navigate legal and long-term-care matters.
Why it matters:
His legal background is part of the professional experience he cites when discussing regulation, government oversight, and consumer issues.
-
Government oversight efforts
Action:
Zeigler's campaign highlights his years of work as State Auditor and his focus on ethics, accountability, and government oversight issues.
Why it matters:
Public Service Commissioners oversee regulatory decisions that affect utility customers and businesses across Alabama.
Campaign Notes
Campaign Notes cover major issues, questions, or debates from a candidate's campaign. Inclusion does not mean wrongdoing or misconduct.
-
Data centers and utility costs
Zeigler argues that large technology companies and data-center projects should pay the roads and bridges costs associated with their electricity needs rather than shifting those costs onto residential utility customers.
-
"Watchman for the people"
Zeigler's campaign emphasizes utility-rate oversight, public accountability, and greater public awareness of Public Service Commission decisions affecting Alabama ratepayers.
Additional Context
This section includes public-record events, controversies, investigations, lawsuits, or other matters that received public attention and may be relevant to some voters. Inclusion does not suggest wrongdoing, guilt, or a conclusion about the candidate's fitness for office.
-
Bentley ethics complaint
Zeigler's campaign highlights his role in filing an ethics complaint involving former Governor Robert Bentley. His campaign presents the episode as part of his record on government accountability and oversight.
Experience
- Alabama State Auditor (2015-2023)
- Alabama Public Service Commissioner (1974-1978)
- Attorney
- Elder-Care Planner
- University of Alabama Graduate
- Faulkner University Jones School of Law Graduate
Things to Think About
- How important is prior Public Service Commission experience when evaluating candidates for the commission?
- Who should bear the costs of major roads and bridges expansions needed for data centers and other large projects?
- What role should public accountability play in utility regulation?
Sources
Sources reviewed: Loading...
Source mix: Loading...