OCEAN SPRINGS – Last week, Mayor Kenny Holloway insisted he was unaware the city was issuing fines to residents through the controversial Securix camera system until six months into his tenure as mayor. Yet, readily available evidence shows otherwise, raising significant questions about oversight and truthfulness of his statements.
The system, which issued citations by cross referencing license plates with the state’s insurance database, was marred in controversy. The latest claim by the mayor adds to that stirring pot.
“It probably took six months before I even realized that was Securix going on,” Holloway said on a recent recorded telephone call. “I had nothing to do with it other than people coming up to me telling me this program isn’t working.”
But a public records request to the city revealed the mayor’s timeline doesn’t add up.
A Twisted Timeline
Holloway took office on July 1, 2021. Although the contract was signed a few weeks before his tenure began, it was under his watch and authority that the system rolled out.
At the August 3rd Board of Alderman meeting, just over a month after Holloway took office, the Board voted unanimously to hire two part-time Safety Officers. The agenda stated these officers were specifically hired for the purpose of handling the citations issued by the Securix system. Mayor Holloway had the choice of vetoing or approving the vote. He chose the latter. A month later, he also signed off on the official minutes that verified the action.
The installation of the Securix cameras — a key component of the program — occurred during Holloway’s first year as mayor. For a project that involved installing surveillance technology across the city, it is hard to reconcile his claim of ignorance with the visible and operational nature of the system.
Rewriting History
While Holloway claims he knew nothing about the implementation of the Securix system, he seems to be very knowledgeable about the ending, often taking credit for the program shutting down. But that claim oversimplifies the process.
In Ocean Springs, the authority to cancel a contract lies with the Board of Aldermen, not the mayor. It was Alderman Rickey Authement who first raised concerns about the program, highlighting issues ranging from flawed citations to transparency problems. Following Authement’s push, the Board voted unanimously to implement the program’s 90-day cancellation notice. Again, Holloway’s role was limited to signing or vetoing the decision — a far cry from unilaterally shutting it down.
Incentive to Distance Himself
Holloway’s choice to distance himself from the Securix program likely goes beyond the program’s flaws.
It was recently verified by GC Wire that the program was originally solicited to Ocean Springs officials by City Attorney Robert Wilkinson and then-Police Chief Mark Dunston.
The duo presented the system to the Board of Aldermen without disclosing both would have a financial interest in the program’s approval. Wilkinson represented Securix throughout the state and Dunston would be paid $5,000 a month to help. Ocean Springs was the spring board necessary to be used as a model city in their venture.
Holloway’s attempt to distance himself from the Securix program is a double edged sword. If he did not know the program was unfolding under his nose, it raises concerns about the level of oversight in Ocean Springs during his administration. If he did willfully authorize the implementation, it shows he’s willing to lie to the public about his involvement. Furthermore, attributing the decision to end the program to himself diminishes the efforts of Alderman Authement and the rest of the Board who brought the matter to light and acted on it.
The mayor’s statements seem to reflect either a significant gap in his knowledge of city operations or a willingness to revise the narrative to suit his role. Neither option inspires confidence in the leadership overseeing the city.
The people of Ocean Springs deserve transparency and accountability — not carefully crafted statements that rewrite history.
