Dale G. Mayfield, an executive for the Kool Smiles chain of dental clinics, filled out an application to be on Georgia's dental licensing board in February 2016. Three days later, Gov. Nathan Deal issued an order appointing him to the Georgia Board of Dentistry.

“Mayfield is the chief dental officer of Kool Smiles,” Deal’s news release said.

But if anyone had bothered to research the company at the time, they would have known Kool Smiles faced government scrutiny over its treatment of children. They would have found a bounty of web articles and TV news reports.

So what happened? That’s not something the governor seems interested in talking about.

Read more of the AJC's investigation at MyAJC.com.

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Brant Frost V is a former vice-chair of the Georgia GOP whose father, Brant Frost IV, founded First Liberty Building & Loan in 1993.   (YouTube screenshot)

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. (center) is flanked by GOP whip Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. (left) and Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, as Thune speak to reporters at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Earlier Tuesday, the Senate passed the budget reconciliation package of President Donald Trump's signature bill of big tax breaks and spending cuts. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

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