Public Service Commission, Place 2 of Alabama · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Alabama public service commission, place 2 race?
Jim Zeigler has the strongest record in the Alabama public service commission, place 2 race. Jim Zeigler scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Jim Zeigler's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Sheila McNeil (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Sheila McNeil
On the ballot as Sheila D. McNeil
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Strongest record
Jim Zeigler
On the ballot as Jim Zig Zeigler
63 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 56
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 50
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Sheila McNeil
- On the record2026-05-26
Sued Gov. Kay Ivey and Attorney General Steve Marshall in federal court to block the law restructuring the PSC mid-election.
Sources: Alabama Political Reporter, May 27, 2026, Alabama Reflector via Yahoo News, June 17, 2026
- Credit2026-08-13
Released a detailed Alabama Data Center Accountability Plan for utility regulation.
- Credit2026-07
Urged the PSC, during its public comment period, to protect ratepayers in reviewing data center contracts.
Jim Zeigler
- On the record2026-05-04
Withdrew from a League of Women Voters forum for PSC candidates, citing the League's stance on congressional redistricting.
- On the record2021-04-27
Sued Gov. Kay Ivey with Democratic Rep. John Rogers and others to block her prison lease plan; a Montgomery judge dismissed the suit in May 2021.
Sources: Alabama Political Reporter, April 28, 2021, Alabama Political Reporter, May 18, 2021
- On the record2018-04
Surrendered his Alabama law license; a State Bar order said its Disciplinary Committee accepted the surrender. A 2017 local bar fee committee letter said he should refund $10,000 of a $12,000 fee, which he did.
Source: WPMI NBC 15, July 11, 2018
- On the record2016-07-21
As auditor, sued to void the state's STAARS accounting software contract, naming Gov. Robert Bentley and the vendor.
Source: WSFA (AP), July 22, 2016
- Credit2024-11-08
The Examiners of Public Accounts reported no significant noncompliance in the State Auditor's Office for October 2018 to September 2023.
- Credit1974 to 1978
Served one term on the Alabama Public Service Commission and did not seek reelection.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Sheila McNeil. Campaign committee 33425 is registered and reporting with no late filing listed; no ethics, court or campaign finance finding found.
Jim Zeigler. Campaign committee 33816 (James William Zeigler, Mobile) is registered and reporting with no 2026 late filing listed; no ethics, court or campaign finance finding found. His 2018 law license surrender is in the Record.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Sheila McNeil. No public record found.
Jim Zeigler. As a Republican state auditor, sued Republican Gov. Kay Ivey in 2021 with a Democratic legislator to block her prison lease plan, and in 2016 sued Republican Gov. Robert Bentley's administration over the STAARS accounting contract.
Sources: Alabama Political Reporter, April 28, 2021, WSFA (AP), July 22, 2016
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Sheila McNeil. No public record found.
Jim Zeigler. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Sheila McNeil. No public record found.
Jim Zeigler. State auditor for two terms (2015 to 2023) and a one-term public service commissioner in the 1970s, with no formal censure or conduct finding found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Sheila McNeil. No public record found.
Jim Zeigler. Took the oath as public service commissioner (1970s) and as state auditor (2015 and 2019); no misuse-of-office finding and no action on certified results found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Sheila McNeil. Career in banking, as a legislative aide and as an educator; has not held elected office in Alabama.
Source: Ballotpedia, Sheila McNeil
Jim Zeigler. Served one full term on the Alabama Public Service Commission in the 1970s and two terms as state auditor (2015 to 2023).
Sources: Alabama Political Reporter, Jan. 26, 2026, Ballotpedia, Jim Zeigler
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Sheila McNeil. Published a detailed Alabama Data Center Accountability Plan (regional review, cost allocation studies, siting maps) and filed comments on PSC procedures for data center contracts.
Sources: Alabama Political Reporter, Aug. 14, 2026, Alabama Political Reporter, July 21, 2026
Jim Zeigler. Campaigns as a "watchman" over large data centers and solar farms and acknowledged new legal limits on convening rate cases; no detailed plan found.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Sheila McNeil. Two channels documented: a published policy plan and public statements on PSC procedures (2026). Has not completed Ballotpedia's survey.
Sources: Alabama Political Reporter, Aug. 14, 2026, Ballotpedia, Sheila McNeil
Jim Zeigler. Two channels documented: an APR candidate questionnaire (2022) and press interviews on his PSC platform (2026). Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Alabama Political Reporter, June 7, 2022, Alabama Reflector via Yahoo News, June 17, 2026, Ballotpedia, Jim Zeigler
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Sheila McNeil. Lives in Madison, Alabama (FCPA committee record); born in San Antonio, Texas. About 83.3 percent of itemized individual cash contributions in 2026 came from Alabama (FCPA data). Years of residence not documented.
Sources: Alabama FCPA committee record, McNeil (33425), Ballotpedia, Sheila McNeil, Alabama FCPA Reporting System, data download
Jim Zeigler. Born in Sylacauga and a Sylacauga High School graduate; now lists Mobile. All itemized individual cash contributions in 2026 ($17,650) came from Alabama (FCPA data).
Sources: Ballotpedia, Jim Zeigler, Alabama FCPA Reporting System, data download
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Sheila McNeil. Campaign committee 33425 has no late filing listed by the Secretary of State.
Jim Zeigler. Headed the State Auditor's Office for eight years; his 2026 committee has no late filing listed. Earlier committees filed three reports one day late (2020 to 2022).
Source: Examiners of Public Accounts, report 25-008, Office of the State Auditor
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Sheila McNeil. No public record found.
Jim Zeigler. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Sheila McNeil. No public record found.
Jim Zeigler. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Sheila McNeil. No public record found.
Jim Zeigler. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Sheila McNeil. No public record found.
Jim Zeigler. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Sheila McNeil. No public record found.
Jim Zeigler. Examiners of Public Accounts found no significant noncompliance in the State Auditor's Office for Oct. 2018 to Sept. 2023, most of which he headed.
Source: Examiners of Public Accounts, report 25-008, Office of the State Auditor
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Alabama public service commission, place 2 race?
Jim Zeigler has the strongest record in the Alabama public service commission, place 2 race. Jim Zeigler scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Jim Zeigler's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Sheila McNeil (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Alabama public service commission, place 2 race in 2026?
Sheila McNeil (Democratic), Jim Zeigler (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Sheila McNeil a good candidate for Public Service Commission, Place 2?
Sheila McNeil has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Jim Zeigler a good candidate for Public Service Commission, Place 2?
Jim Zeigler scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 56 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Alabama race scored, and the Alabama 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.