Blab Politics
Georgia Senate Runoff Faces Scrutiny Over School Security Contracts and Governors Ties
On June 16, Georgia voters will decide between U.S. Rep. Mike Collins and former college football coach Derek Dooley in a Republican runoff that could set the stage for a November battle against incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff. The race has become entangled in a controversy that questions the relationship between Dooley, Governor Brian Kemp, and a school‑security company called Centegix.
Dooley earned the second‑largest share of votes in the May 19 primary, trailing Collins 40.5% to 30.9%. He surged in the final weeks of the campaign, in part after Kemp publicly endorsed him and the governor’s political action committee (PAC) reportedly poured millions into Dooley’s campaign. The PAC’s contributions are part of a broader pattern of financial support that has drawn attention to possible conflicts of interest.
The core of the allegation centers on Centegix, a company owned by Daniel Dooley, Derek’s brother. According to a 11Alive investigation, Centegix received state school‑safety grants that totaled roughly $27 million. The grants were intended to fund security systems in public schools, and the company’s products are now installed in about 90% of Georgia schools, according to WSB‑TV reporting in August 2025. The investigation notes that the grants were awarded to local districts, not directly by the state, and that the districts chose the vendor on their own. No evidence was found that Kemp or the governor directed districts toward Centegix.
Dooley has donated at least $100,000 to Hardworking Americans, Kemp’s PAC, which is now financing his Senate bid. In a statement to 11Alive, a governor’s spokesperson said the safety grants were administered by local authorities and that the state had no role in selecting vendors. The spokesperson added that Kemp had no involvement in the procurement process.
Additional allegations stem from Kemp’s business history. Reports from Courier Georgia and other outlets describe how Kemp entered the governor’s office in 2019 with significant debt tied to Shelter Rock, a real‑estate firm that sold properties along Lake Strom Thurmond. Two years later, the properties were sold for more than their asking price, reportedly erasing much of the debt. The buyers of those properties, including Donald Richards of Network Cabling Infrastructures, later received state contracts for security and surveillance products, earning more than $2 million from the state. Kemp is also accused of helping pass lottery‑machine legislation that benefited a property buyer who subsequently donated to Dooley’s campaign.
Kemp’s office has denied any wrongdoing. A spokesperson said the transactions were intended to “disentangle the governor from a longstanding business partnership” and that Kemp had no role in state contracting. The spokesperson also noted that the lottery‑machine bill received bipartisan support and underwent a thorough review.
The controversy has prompted state lawmakers to call for an independent investigation. Representatives Karlton Howard and Brian Prince announced on Friday that they would seek to add a probe of the Kemp‑Dooley relationship to the agenda for the special session set to begin on June 17. They said that both men have refused to answer questions about possible financial entanglements. The call for an investigation has garnered support from 40 legislators across party lines.
The special session will also address other pending issues, including changes to Georgia’s voting process following the 2020 election, potential redistricting after a Supreme Court decision, and the ratification of a gas‑tax suspension that expired earlier this week.
As the runoff approaches, the controversy may influence voter perceptions of the candidates. The Georgia Secretary of State’s office has not released any official findings on the allegations, and no legal action has been filed. The next steps will include the June 16 runoff, the June 17 special session, and the potential for a formal investigation into the alleged ties between the governor, the Dooley family, and state contracts.
The outcome of the runoff will determine whether the GOP will face a contested November election against Senator Ossoff. Meanwhile, the unresolved questions about the Centegix contracts and Kemp’s business dealings remain a point of public scrutiny and could shape the political narrative in Georgia’s upcoming elections.
Dooley earned the second‑largest share of votes in the May 19 primary, trailing Collins 40.5% to 30.9%. He surged in the final weeks of the campaign, in part after Kemp publicly endorsed him and the governor’s political action committee (PAC) reportedly poured millions into Dooley’s campaign. The PAC’s contributions are part of a broader pattern of financial support that has drawn attention to possible conflicts of interest.
The core of the allegation centers on Centegix, a company owned by Daniel Dooley, Derek’s brother. According to a 11Alive investigation, Centegix received state school‑safety grants that totaled roughly $27 million. The grants were intended to fund security systems in public schools, and the company’s products are now installed in about 90% of Georgia schools, according to WSB‑TV reporting in August 2025. The investigation notes that the grants were awarded to local districts, not directly by the state, and that the districts chose the vendor on their own. No evidence was found that Kemp or the governor directed districts toward Centegix.
Dooley has donated at least $100,000 to Hardworking Americans, Kemp’s PAC, which is now financing his Senate bid. In a statement to 11Alive, a governor’s spokesperson said the safety grants were administered by local authorities and that the state had no role in selecting vendors. The spokesperson added that Kemp had no involvement in the procurement process.
Additional allegations stem from Kemp’s business history. Reports from Courier Georgia and other outlets describe how Kemp entered the governor’s office in 2019 with significant debt tied to Shelter Rock, a real‑estate firm that sold properties along Lake Strom Thurmond. Two years later, the properties were sold for more than their asking price, reportedly erasing much of the debt. The buyers of those properties, including Donald Richards of Network Cabling Infrastructures, later received state contracts for security and surveillance products, earning more than $2 million from the state. Kemp is also accused of helping pass lottery‑machine legislation that benefited a property buyer who subsequently donated to Dooley’s campaign.
Kemp’s office has denied any wrongdoing. A spokesperson said the transactions were intended to “disentangle the governor from a longstanding business partnership” and that Kemp had no role in state contracting. The spokesperson also noted that the lottery‑machine bill received bipartisan support and underwent a thorough review.
The controversy has prompted state lawmakers to call for an independent investigation. Representatives Karlton Howard and Brian Prince announced on Friday that they would seek to add a probe of the Kemp‑Dooley relationship to the agenda for the special session set to begin on June 17. They said that both men have refused to answer questions about possible financial entanglements. The call for an investigation has garnered support from 40 legislators across party lines.
The special session will also address other pending issues, including changes to Georgia’s voting process following the 2020 election, potential redistricting after a Supreme Court decision, and the ratification of a gas‑tax suspension that expired earlier this week.
As the runoff approaches, the controversy may influence voter perceptions of the candidates. The Georgia Secretary of State’s office has not released any official findings on the allegations, and no legal action has been filed. The next steps will include the June 16 runoff, the June 17 special session, and the potential for a formal investigation into the alleged ties between the governor, the Dooley family, and state contracts.
The outcome of the runoff will determine whether the GOP will face a contested November election against Senator Ossoff. Meanwhile, the unresolved questions about the Centegix contracts and Kemp’s business dealings remain a point of public scrutiny and could shape the political narrative in Georgia’s upcoming elections.
