Source: Cardinal & Pine
Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson has received over $65,000 in campaign donations from donors with ties to charter schools. It is no surprise to see Robinson, the current Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, supported by charter schools.
As Lieutenant Governor, Robinson is part of the North Carolina State Board of Education (NCSBE). Though he only attended a little more than half of the NCSBE meetings last year, and even less the year before, he is very outspoken on education and voted in favor of motions that positively affect charter schools.
Additionally, Robinson’s wife Yolanda sits on the board of three schools, all under the management of Charter One. Charter One is a national organization that manages charter schools across the country and many schools in North Carolina, including the schools Yolanda is involved with. Individuals related to Charter One including the sons of the organization’s founder, are responsible for $41,700 of the $65,000 donated to Robinson’s campaign.
While he’s said his fair share about public schools, like saying they indoctrinate children, that teachers are wicked people, and that the school system turns children into godless communists, Robinson has been an avid supporter of charter and private schools since being elected to the position of Lieutenant Governor. In his 2022 memoir “We Are The Majority,” Robinson encourages increasing funding to private and charter schools, stating “We might see a mass exodus from public schools entirely … and traditional public schools might be a thing of the past.”
A possibility with another policy Robinson supports is North Carolina’s private school voucher program which provides students K-12 with public funds to attend a private school in North Carolina. The school voucher program has drawn criticism from Democrats in the legislature and Gov. Roy Cooper.
“I am not against private schools, but I am against taxpayer money going to private schools at the expense of public schools,” Cooper said.
Expansion of the private school voucher program was predicted to cut state spending on our already underfunded public schools by $200 million – a fact that bothers Robinson little as he believes schools do better when funded less. It might be a comfort to Robinson to know that, compared to other states, North Carolina ranks dead last in how much money our state could be spending versus how much we spend on education.
The money donated to Robinson from people connected to charter schools comes as he votes in ways that benefit charter schools, such as voting against tying a charter school’s renewal to the grade the school receives. Robinson advocates for additional funding and exposure of charter schools, by rallying for school choice; all while belittling and attacking public schools from the faculty to curriculum.
These donations serve as a thank you to Robinson for what he’s done so far, and an investment for what he would do if he wins the governor’s seat in November.
