By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Friday, August 25, 2017, Alabama State Auditor Jim Zeigler (R) announced that he is endorsing Judge Roy Moore in the US Senate race for the seat formerly held by Jeff Sessions (R).
Auditor Zeigler said, “The contrast is clear between Bentley-appointed Senator Strange and future Senator Roy Moore. Strange is in lock-step with the Washington Insiders who own his campaign funding. Roy Moore will be committed to Alabama citizens, the Constitution, and the values on which America was founded.”
Former Alabama Chief Justice Moore said, “I’m honored to have my friend Jim Ziegler’s support. Jim is a solid conservative who is unafraid to stand up to corrupt politicians. He never backs down from his convictions, which is exactly what we need in Alabama and in Washington.”
Moore Campaign Chairman Bill Armistead said, “I have known Jim for many years. He’s a fine Christian man who is dedicated to cleaning up corruption in government. Like Judge Moore, you never have to wonder where Jim Zeigler stands. He is a stalwart conservative who is always working to protect taxpayers from fraud and abuse. He truly is the taxpayer’s watchdog, holding career politicians accountable. With his help and other conservatives across Alabama, we will send Roy Moore to Washington to hold them accountable.”
Zeigler has been highly critical of former Governor Robert Bentley and his hand picked choice for Senator, Luther Strange. Zeigler has been active in the earlier primary, releasing information detrimental to Strange almost daily on social media. Zeigler did not endorse any specific candidate in the primary but said he was “for ABL. Anybody but Luther.”
Zeigler said, “Luther Strange obstructed the impeachment process of then-Governor Robert Bentley. Strange asked the House impeachment committee to halt the impeachment because Strange was doing ‘related work.’ That work by Strange never materialized. Instead, Strange interviewed with Gov. Bentley for the appointment to the US Senate. Luther Strange said he would not interview with Bentley for the Senate appointment but did so anyway. The handling of the Senate appointment by Bentley and Strange absolutely stank. It is now the subject of an ethics complaint.”
Zeigler, who is a career attorney himself, said, “A prosecutor such as then-State Attorney General Strange should never interview for a job with a subject of his office’s criminal investigation. And to actually accept the appointment by the subject of your investigation is clearly improper The people of Alabama have the final say in this senate seat. I believe the voters will rise up and reject Bentley-appointed Senator Strange in favor of a people’s-elected Senator Roy Moore.”
Zeigler has also been outspoken in his concerns over “millions of dollars of special interest money coming from Washington trying to elect Luther Strange. Those Washington millions could well backfire on Strange. The voters of Alabama are not for sale. We can select our own senator without the influence of Washington millions.”
On Wednesday, a new poll sponsored by Decision Desk IQ showed former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court Roy Moore leading appointed Senator Luther Strange (R) by 18 points. Over half of likely Republican voters said that they will vote for Moore. Moore leads 50.3 percent to just 32.2 for Luther Strange. 17.5 percent are undecided.
The winner faces Democrat nominee Doug Jones in the Dec. 12 general election.
Zeigler has announced that he is exploring running for Governor in 2018. If he does not run for Governor, Zeigler has said that he may still run for Auditor.
