Republican races for Alabama secretary of state, state auditor headed to runoffs

The battle for U.S. Senate should kick up the most dust in the June 21 Republican runoff election. But GOP voters will also choose nominees for two statewide constitutional offices.

Rep. Wes Allen of Troy and State Auditor Jim Zeigler will try to get the Republican nomination for secretary of state, replacing the term-limited John Merrill. Stan Cooke, a professional counselor, and Rep. Andrew Sorrell of Muscle Shoals will vie for Zeigler's current job as state auditor.

The challenge for all four candidates will be keeping a profile high amid the war for the Senate, and getting supporters out for what will likely be a low-turnout election.

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Previously: U.S. Senate candidate Katie Britt primary election night event

Secretary of state

Allen outspent the entire Republican field in the primary for the office that oversees state elections, dropping over $378,000 on the race. By contrast, Zeigler spent $96,482; all other candidates spent a combined $33,749. But Zeigler, who has used the state auditor's office as a bully pulpit for various local and conservative causes, finished first on Tuesday, getting 42.7% of the vote to Allen’s 39.7%.

The two candidates said in separate interviews Wednesday they would focus on election security in Alabama, though both said they believe Alabama’s elections are secure. Neither candidate said they would look at measures to make voting easier or more convenient.

“What’s convenient is making sure we keep our voting safe and secure,” Allen said. “We don’t want any chaos or confusion.”

Zeigler said voting “could not be easier than it is in Alabama” and that going to the polls  “should require a bit of personal initiative.”

Allen said he would stress his experience with elections, both as probate judge in Pike County and as the House sponsor of various pieces of legislation related to voting. Those included bills banning counties from setting up drop boxes for ballots and banning outside entities from providing funding to help administer elections.

“I’m the only one who’s been experienced conducting elections,” Allen said. “The probate judge focuses on that. You’re going to hear us talk about taking that conservative experience from the courthouse to the State House.”

Zeigler said he would act as a “watchman” of the election system and provide “constant vigilance.”

“We don’t need a nice guy as the secretary of state,” he said. “We need a tough hombre. The role I played in fighting against the gas tax, blocking the toll bridge on Interstate 10 and helping block the prison rental boondoggle — these are specific examples of someone who will fight against the establishment.”

Zeigler also called Allen the “establishment” candidate, citing his backing from the Business Council of Alabama and other organizations. Allen said he was the “only lifelong Republican” in the race, a reference to Zeigler who, like many Alabama Republicans, started out as an Alabama Democrat.

State auditor

Like the Secretary of State’s race, the Republican auditor’s race featured one big spender. Unlike that race, the big spender finished first.

Sorrell put over $484,822 into the campaign for state auditor, who oversees state property and has a say in registrar appointments. Cooke spent $84,310, and the rest of the field spent $35,009.

Sorrell got 39.5% of the primary vote; Cooke got 32.7%. Former Sen. Rusty Glover got 27.7%.

Sorrell and Cooke both said they want to expand the powers of the state auditor and make the office a more powerful vehicle for government transparency. They differ in how they would get there. Sorrell wants to bring the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts under the office’s supervision, a move that would likely require legislative approval.

“We kind of consider (state auditor) the bottom of the totem pole,” he said. “That position (public examiners) needs to be put back under the state auditor’s office.”

Cooke said he would appoint field auditors in the four major cities in the state and improve coordination with the state finance department and the state treasurer’s office. His goal, he said, was to make the office function “more efficiently and effectively.”

“I think we need to prove ourselves and work with what we’ve got,” he said.

Both candidates are also highlighting their experience. Cooke cited his 20 years of work in inventory control and warehouse purchasing and said that would complement the auditor’s duties of property management. He also cited 35 years of administrative experience.

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“Everywhere I have been as an administrator, we have always left that corporation better than where we found it,” he said.

Sorrell cited his business experience, including launching his first company when he was 16, and his conservative voting record in the Alabama House.

“I think running the office efficiently is going to be no problem for me,” he said. “And I have a voting record.”

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Brian Lyman at 334-240-0185 or blyman@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Republican races for secretary of state, auditor headed to runoffs