ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — State Reps. in Albany, Democrats across Georgia are joining in calling for an independent investigation into what they describe as a “pay-to-play” scandal involving school safety spending and a U.S. Senate campaign.

State Rep. David Sampson spoke during a virtual news conference Friday, alleging Centegix — a company that provides school safety technology — has received nearly $77 million in state school safety contracts without the work being put out for bid.

Sampson noted the company’s founder, Daniel Dooley, is the brother of U.S. Senate candidate Derek Dooley. Gov. Brian Kemp has been touring the state and endorsing Dooley, prompting Democrats to question how Centegix secured the contracts.

“We’re not saying that there’s cronyism, nepotism or any malfeasance at all that has taken place,” Sampson said. “What we’re saying is based on that information and the money that’s been received by Centegix; the optics are awful.”

A spokesperson for Kemp’s office denied the claims, calling the allegations a “new low.”

Democrats say they want an investigation during this month’s special legislative session, which begins the day after the runoff election.

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