With two months before his likely election as the initial county commission chairman at-large, Dusty Zeigler is clearing the decks to devote as much time as possible to the position.

The former National League Football lineman is divesting his interest in an umbrella company, selling his half of the stake to partner Tony Reardon.

“It’s quite abrupt, to be honest with you,” Zeigler said recently. “I’m trying to bundle up everything we had together and let him assume control of all of it.” Zeigler faced no opposition in the July primary and received the Republican nomination for November’s general election. There is no Democratic opposition.

Zeigler met informally with the Rincon City Council a month ago and he said he wants to learn as much as he can about the position and the relationships the county has prior to taking office in January.

“It’s good timing for me, with some of the things we’re trying to do with the county. I can start moving toward getting involved with the county,” he said. “If (elected), I’ll have plenty of time to learn how the processes and procedures run.”

Zeigler said he is looking forward to seeing things from the other side of the dais of the county commissioners.

“What I know now is as a taxpayer and a voter,” he said. “All the county residents are already bending my ear. It’s a big learning curve, but it will be a good learning experience.”

County Commissioner Verna Phillips, who has served as the group’s chairperson, said she talked with Zeigler at the Effingham Chamber of Commerce’s community retreat.

“He listened a lot,” she said. “I think he’s looking forward to working with the county. He has a lot to learn, he realizes.”

In the meantime, Zeigler also plans to be involved in coaching recreation football. His father-in-law is the coach of the team on which his two sons play, and his daughter is now into tumbling.

He will miss the day-to-day interaction he had running his business, Unified Equipment Resources, but believes what he learned there will help him as commission chairman.

“It’s very rewarding experience to run a small business and to work with the team of folks we had there,” Zeigler said, “and in an industry with good, salt-of-the-earth people.”