Alabama School Board candidate Jackie Zeigler brought her campaign to Covington County on Monday.

The Mobile resident led a field of four contenders vying for the District 1 seat, which includes Baldwin, Butler, Covington, Conecuh, Crenshaw, Escambia and parts of Mobile counties. She faces incumbent Matthew Brown in the April 12 runoff. Brown, 29, is a Baldwin County engineer who was appointed to the post by Gov. Robert Bentley last July.

Zeigler is a retired educator with 37 years of experience as a teacher and principal.

“I got a feeling I was being needed,” Zeigler said of her decision to seek public office. “I knew I had the time to devote to it, and I missed schools. “

The top issue facing the state board is hiring a new superintendent, Zeigler said. Former Superintendent Tommy Bice’s retirement became official March 31, and the board has not yet named a successor.

“We need an individual that has the vision of what the children of Alabama – all the children of Alabama – need,” she said. “I think that is the most critical component.”

She said it is important for board members to keep lines of communication open.

“We are in need of actually going and being that voice for the district,” she said. “We also have the bridge from voters to the legislators.”

The District 1 BOE race is the only state race on next Tuesday’s runoff ballot; and across the district, the only other race on the ballot is the Covington County Commission runoff between Kyle Adams and Kylan Lewis. Zeigler said turnout will be low, and a problem.

“First, let me say I am totally against runoffs,” she said. “But it is imperative for people to get out and vote.”

Zeigler’s husband, Jim Zeigler, is the current state auditor.