Republican Jim Zeigler ends gubernatorial exploratory campaign

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Jim Zeigler

Alabama State Auditor Jim Zeigler won’t run for Governor this year after all.

On Saturday, Zeigler announced he would not run as a gubernatorial candidate, dissolving his exploratory campaign.

“It is just not my time,” Zeigler said in a Facebook post.

Zeigler, who has just completed three years of a four-year term as auditor, noted in a press release that he has until the Feb. 9 to decide whether to seek a second term as state auditor.

The retired elder law attorney from Mobile, Ala. commented on remaining candidates for governor:

  • Gov. Kay Ivey: “Gov. Kay Ivey had a great act to follow.  She has steadied the ship of state after the disastrous second Bentley administration.”Zeigler filed an ethics complaint against former Gov. Robert Bentley in March 2016. On April 5, 2017, the ethics commission found probable cause that Bentley had committed four felony violations, including the complaint filed by Zeigler. Five days later, Bentley resigned.
  • Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle: “Mayor Tommy Battle has done an excellent job with recruitment of industry and jobs in Huntsville.”
  • Youth evangelist Rev. Scott Dawson: “Rev. Scott Dawson has lined up the ‘Rick and Bubba’ radio audience and is doing well with the important Christian conservative voters.”
  • State Sen. Bill Hightower: “Sen. Bill Hightower has done a good job of organizing his home area of Mobile and Baldwin counties.”

In June, Zeigler formed an exploratory committee for governor debating a run.

A little before 9:00 a.m. CT,  Zeigler updated his political Facebook page from “Jim Zeigler Exploratory Campaign for Governor” to “Jim Zeigler State Auditor.”