By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Thursday, July 10, businessman Dale Peterson and attorney Jim Zeigler were at Hoover Tactical Firearms to make a last case to Republican voters who go to the polls on Tuesday, July to decide which of the two men will be the Republican Party nominee for state auditor. The Hoover event was sponsored by the Rainy Day Plus and the 60 Plus Association and was moderated by 60 Plus Association Director Apryl Marie Fogel.
Peterson complained that the job does nothing and has little responsibility.
Zeigler said to Peterson, “If the job does nothing you will be a great auditor.”
Zeigler said that the auditor’s office serve as a watchdog to identify waste in state government. Zeigler said that he has, “Been doing this for the last 30 years,” as a private citizen. Zeigler said that he once exposed a scandal where illegal paychecks were going to 400 state officials. Stopping that practice saved taxpayers a couple $$millions. “As auditor I will be able to do this on a full time basis.”
Zeigler said that he has been involved in six or seven such cases over the years
Peterson said that the Auditor’s office does not have that much power since the Public Examiner’s Office was taken out from under the auditor by the Alabama legislature in 1939.
Peterson said, “He (Zeigler) can huff and puff for votes all night long and he can’t do it.” Peterson said that Zeigler ran as a Democrat ran 6 or 7 times then switched to the Republican Party where he has continued to run for office.
Peterson said that Auditor does nothing because it has no power. The power left in 1939. Now it counts chairs and computers. The auditor’s office did recently find $4 million in lost chairs, and computers. The first thing to do would be to work with Rep. Ed Henry (R) from Decatur to pass his bill to get the Public Examiner’s office back under the auditor’s office back where it belongs. Peterson also promised to give the board of Registrars a raise, “Because the security of our vote depends on those guys.”
Zeigler said that Peterson must be supporting a tax increase to pay for the raises for the registrars.
Zeigler said that he has been involved in Alabama politics for over 28 years and has been much happier as a Republican. To the charge that he used to be a Democrat, Zeigler said he is like Ronald Reagan, Richard Shelby, and George Wallace. Zeigler said that he has been on the frontline against bone headed spending for years as an, “Activist against government waste.” Zeigler led the Republican Primary vote in a four way field with 47 percent of the vote.
Peterson said that he did not support a tax increase but would pay for the raise for the registrars with all the money he saved the state by moving the Public Examiner’s office back over like it is in all the other fifty states so it has teeth.
Peterson said he wanted to, “Take the office and make it real again not just a stepping stone for somebody to get a check and then leave.”
Zeigler said, “No one else in this race has ever filed an ethics race except Jim Zeigler.” Zeigler listed all the investigation he has been involved in and said that he contributed to the investigation of Don Seigelman.
Don Seigelman is Alabama’s last Democrat Governor and went to federal prison for public corruption.
Zeigler told the audience of tea party activists, “I am one of you.” “I am a member of 60 plus and the Patriots in Mobile.”
Zeigler said that he spent a month in Wisconsin helping Gov. Scott Walker defeat the recall effort that was lodged against him. He also spent a month in Washington State helping the Republican Party win control of the Washington State Senate. Zeigler said that he is the constitutional Alabama values candidate for Auditor.
Peterson said, “I have not been in politics as long as Jim has, I don’t know that anyone here has.”
Dale Peterson also announced, “I am voting for Gary Palmer (in the Sixth Congressional District Race).” Peterson said, “Gary is taking hits on the radio like I have been by the Democrat media.” “I am not really good at beating around the bush. It is time to go through the bush.” Peterson said at the reason the press has honed in on him instead of Zeigler is because they think they think the opponent (Zeigler) can be beaten by the Democrat.
The Republican Primary Runoff is on Tuesday, July 15.
The Republican Primary Runoff winner will face Democrat Miranda K. Joseph in November.
