Early Mark Robinson supporter explains her move to Dale Folwell camp
Greensboro-area resident Aryn Schloemer has been around conservative grassroots
circles for some time. She’s a founding member of Guilford Patriots AND NC Grassroots Government. Some may remember her as a co-plaintiff in the legal complaint about the NCGOP’s 2023 convention and officer elections. Schloemer is also a familiar face and name for folks working in the election integrity arena.
She is now circulating an op-ed detailing her conversion from an early, passionate supporter of Lt. Governor Mark Robinson‘s campaign for governor over to a supporter of state treasurer Dale Folwell:
Meeting Mark Robinson early 2019, I have a unique perspective on him personally and professionally.
I watched him struggle to find his calling after his viral speech, pursue, campaign, fundraise and win Lieutenant Governor.
My initial concerns around Mark’s engagement in politics centered on his ability to remain effective at speaking truth; speaking truth burns bridges and burning bridges ruins political careers. As a man with no experience or network of dependable allies in Raleigh, the challenges ahead would be massive and his moral compass essential for righteousness.
Shortly after his announcement for Lieutenant Governor, Mark faced his first political decision; whether to fulfill his promise to Jim Womack, the grassroots candidate for NCGOP Chair, to deliver his nominating speech at the 2019 NCGOP convention or back out and refuse to confront the establishment republicans and Michael Whatley. Mark gave one of his best speeches and I couldn’t have been prouder.
Mark surpassed all expectations when he achieved his win against eight other candidates in the 2020 Primary.
He didn’t surpass mine. I spent the evening at his watch party texting, “I told you so” to every contact in my phone. Mark’s momentum shot him to Raleigh, straight into the Lion’s Den, where Mark’s moral compass would be challenged daily.
In 2021, I still had hope Mark would lead a revival spreading Christian values across North Carolina, bringing much needed reformation to our state government reaffirming Biblical principles, restoring freedom, and upholding the Constitution.
Unfortunately, over the next three years, Mark progressively lost his conviction and all effectiveness of spreading truth. Instead of fulfilling the promises he had made to be the voice for the voiceless, Mark fundraised and slowly abandoned all duties of Lieutenant Governor and became unrecognizable to the very people who fought so hard to get him elected.
Mark’s inaction became commonplace. He did not push back against the Cooper-NCGOP agenda to expand Medicaid, the North Carolina Green New Deal, ESG, DEI, online gambling, broadened quarantine language and Covid mandates.
A pillar of Mark’s platform for Lieutenant Governor was to abolish abortion. Yet, when the conservative legislators were debating for the heartbeat bill, Mark didn’t want to talk about abortion anymore, apparently forgetting his words from 2020, that abortion was a stain on America, and that God would never smile on our nation until abortion was abolished.
Mark was given access to experts who told him in no uncertain terms about early treatment, therapeutics, and the clear and present dangers of the hospital protocol (Remdesivir, sedatives, and ventilators) and the “Covid-19 vaccine.”
I would text, call and visit Raleigh, each time begging Mark to use his megaphone to speak against the destruction of freedom and liberty through Cooper’s Executive Orders and laws passed by the Republican-led General Assembly.
We all waited and waited, and waited for Mark, our fearless leader, to stand in the gap.
The years of deafening silence became crystal clear at Mark’s announcement for Governor when Phil Berger shared the stage. The brand of “Mark Robinson” that launched in 2019, fierce and righteous, ready to fight the establishment had been diminished, and molded into the most typical politician, reading a written speech that said nothing at all.
No one was surprised when Mark was too busy to attend any of the rallies or county commissioner meetings protesting legalizing casinos.
Mark somehow did manage to squeeze in a radio show the following morning after all the dust had settled. He pretended he was with us in the trenches, but never called out the atrocities of burying legalizing casinos in a budget bill and refusing to include public opinion on such a consequential matter.
When the reciprocal endorsements by Phil Berger and Mark appeared all over social media, I knew Mark’s moral compass was irretrievably compromised, and our grassroots leader was no more. Without his moral compass and conviction to speak truth, Mark is merely a mouthpiece for all that’s wrong with North Carolina, dreadfully unfit to serve as Governor and destined to hand Josh Stein a victory in November’s General Election.
When Dale announced his run for Governor, I like others, questioned why he wouldn’t just continue his great work as treasurer.
But voting decisions should not be made emotionally.
I am embarrassed to admit, I had no prior knowledge of Dale’s background before discounting his run. My due diligence on Dale, as a candidate for Governor, began immediately.
It didn’t take long to confirm Dale’s life experiences and resume made him the EXACT person for the job; a man with a lifelong commitment to public service, an incredible ability to identify problems and efficiently solve them, a commitment to transparency and communication, and unmatched tenacity to steward money.
Dale’s lifelong commitment to public service began in 1990 when he was elected to the Forsyth County School Board and served two terms. Having endured personal tragedy, the loss of his child to a lack of school bus safety, Dale was elected to the General Assembly, where he focused on school safety/education, crime prevention, government efficiency and family values.
While in the General Assembly, Dale led the way to pass 28 major pieces of legislation, quite a feat as Republicans were in the minority. To quote Dale, “With every bill I introduce, I try to make it common-sense and something every member would be proud to vote for.” 4,098 yes votes and 171 no votes brought those 28 bills to law. Dale doesn’t just use unity as a talking point, he is living proof it can be accomplished.
About his tenure in the General Assembly:
The invisible problems will ultimately drive NC’s future. Those invisible problems are the $35 billion unfunded liability in retiree health care obligations, the growing taxpayer liability for Teachers & State Employees’ Retirement System, the workers’ compensation system and the unemployment insurance system.
Solving problems whether as a garbage collector, a motorcycle mechanic, legislator or State Treasurer, Dale has a proven track record. He excelled wherever he was by listening to those around him and always answering the phone.
Dale’s commitment to transparency and problem solving as State Treasurer led him to initiate monthly “Ask Me Anything” teleconferences with reporters and constituents.
For Dale: “It’s not enough to know that something needs to be done. Somebody has to listen and act on it.”
In a time where politicians, like Mark Robinson, run from debates, reporters and even constituents, Dale’s commitment to securing North Carolina’s success remains steadfast through open dialogue and accessibility.
The list of financial accomplishments Dale has secured for North Carolina first as a legislator and then as State Treasurer are no less than astonishing.
-Maintained North Carolina’s AAA credit score
-Stood up to drug companies and hospitals, fighting for lower costs and medical transparency
-Transformed a $2 billion federal debt to a $1 billion surplus
-Currently, NC ranked among the nation’s top five in highest funded pension plans
Dale, taking his blue-collar experiences, discerning his God-given gifts, enhancing them with formal education and time in the private sector, serving the People locally, in the General Assembly and as a member of the Council of State will undoubtedly produce an outstanding governor.
His lifelong record for integrity, producing results, uniting under common sense principles with unemotional unbiased demeanor, creating efficiency, mastering positions of authority before elevating in responsibility and a servant’s heart of 34 years is exactly what North Carolina needs to get back on track. […]
Early, devoted friends walking away from Mark Robinson feeling betrayed. It’s becoming an all-too-familiar story. We heard about it from former congressman Mark Walker. We heard about it from gun rights activist Andy Stevens. Now, we’re hearing about it from Ms. Schloemer.
Mark Robinson is nothing more than a one-hit wonder. People look at him and wonder. His lack of morals and integrity are on display every time he speaks. He has proven he is not capable to lead in any position. Reject this loser and vote for Folwell!!
I want to thank Aryn Schloemer for this testimony. I, also tried to convince Dale Folwell to continue as Treasurer, hoping he could work with Mark Robinson to get him to wake up and actually stand up, rather than just talking about it. Once Dale filed for Governor, however, I immediately got behind him. Dale Folwell and I have been friends for over 25 years. Once I was appointed to the NC House, he was a great mentor to me. After he went to Commerce, he helped me save a business in Harrisburg when no one else would get involved. After he became Treasurer, I had to call on him several times when constituents needed help with the government bureaucrats. He was always quick to help. Dale is simply the greatest public servant I know. On the other hand, Mark Robinson’s first two years in Raleigh were my last two (at least for now). Many times I tried to meet with him to discuss addressing mutual goals to help our citizens. Mark Robinson never made himself available to talk to me. I would go to his office in the Legislative Building to try to see him. Not only was he never there, but no staff member was ever there, and the door was always locked. Apparently, public service never really mattered to Mark Robinson. I quickly became very disillusioned with him. It appears he has also very seldom presided over the Senate as he is supposed to do. Mark Robinson has done NOTHING for the people of North Carolina, while Dale Folwell has constantly devoted himself to our well-being. Now I have heard that there are things Robinson has done over which the Democrats are just waiting and licking their chops for him to win our primary before they pounce on him. If true, surely Josh Stein is fully aware and can’t wait to take down Mark Robinson. He does not want to have to run against Dale Folwell. Believe me, if we are going to stop Josh Stein, we need Dale Folwell. Robinson just can’t handle that contest, or handle the job of Governor.
Phil Berger is EXTREMELY bad news for conservatives. He operates like Mitch McConnell in the US Senate, only worse. He brazenly pushes liberal Democrat agenda items and the liberal positions of the special interests, but cares nothing about Republican principles, the Republican platform, or Republican voters. It is all about personal power for sleazy politicians like Berger and McConnell, and who they can do a favor that they night get something in return for at some point.
A Berger controlled state senate is little different than a Democrat controlled state senate. Berger has been hard at work pushing through the major agenda items of the liberal Roy Cooper administration. First ending bathroom / locker room privacy so that biological men can go in the ladies room (which bathroom do YOU use, Phil?). Then it was pushing NC’s Green New Deal that will send our electric rates sky high., which is also a major national Democrat priority. Then another Cooper agenda item that is also a high national Democrat priority, the Obamacare Medicaid expansion. Then casinos. Ithat one failed so far). Most recently it is the the Cooper boondoggle slush fund called NCInnovation. With “Republicans” like Phil Berger, who even needs Democrats?
Berger does not like conservatives or grassroots-oriented GOP senators and will interfere in local senate races at the drop of a hat to get his sock puppets in office instead of anyone who cares about Republican principles or the Republican voters. He interfered there in Moore County’s own state senate race a few years ago to muscle his guy in. Berger is doing so right now in the Craven-Beaufort-Lenoir 3rd district, pushing his sock puppet Bob Brinson. A Berger “Republican” is as bad as a Democrat, so many conservatives will choose to just leave that race blank in November if they are left without a real choice. Berger operates the same way as McConnell in interfering in senate races to get the less conservative and more controllable candidate nominated.
One of the things that has clearly shown that the utterly useless Mark Robinson is part of Team Berger is that Berger gave Robinson a list of pro-Berger candidates to endorse in primaries and Robinson said “yes, massa” and endorsed them. Robinson refused to stand up to Berger’s liberalism in the State Senate, over which Robinson presides, even when Berger killed Constitutional Carry. Gun rights is supposed to be Robinson’s signature issue, but he would not even stand up to Berger’s anti-gun liberalism on that.
Robinson has revealed himself to be as big a phony as Berger, and if he is the nominee, conservatives may well find themselves in a position with no one to vote for in the governor’s race. I once had great hopes for Mark Robinson, but he has deeply disappointed us by falling in with the wrong crowd in Raleigh.
NEVER TILLIS, NEVER McCONNELL, NEVER ROBINSON
Thank you Aryn and Larry! My sentiments as well. The truth always surfaces.
I was thinking that Mark Robinson was going to lead the Conservative movement to the Promised Land. How wrong I was. All this time we had an Accountant who treats public money better than most of treat our own. The same accountant rides Harley’s and swims in cold water. Dale can lead the conservative movement to the Promised Land. Dale Yeah.
Mark Robinson fell in with the wrong crowd when he got to Raleigh – special interest whore Phil Berger and his cronies. When you lie down with dogs, you get fleas.
Reaganite has NAILED the issue. Mark start with good intentions, but they quickly faded when he started hanging around with the wrong people. Yes, the doors are often locked at the mansion. The rumors are that there are things some of the staff are doing that are necessarily behind closed doors. (He has some great staff members, too. This statement is NOT an indictment of all of them.) Mark has also started hanging around with leaches who brag they they have him in their pockets. Maybe they do. They went on the Mar-A-Lago junket with him.
We’re in a sad situation. Mark is probably going to win the primary. He will absolutely lose to Josh Stein. I will vote for Dale Folwell and pray for a miracle. Our state needs one.
By the way, I’m glad Ms. Schloemer has started doing her research. She should have resisted being used as a “named plaintiff” in the failed lawsuit that was dismissed for lack of standing. Who paid for the lawsuit? It wasn’t Mike Urben.
Mark Robinson is more useless than the members of the Sandhills Community College Board of Trustees.
Want another example?
Let’s discuss his time in the NRA Board of Directors.
Robinson rode the coattails of his famous speech defending the Greensboro Gunshow to get a seat on the Board of Directors of the National Rifle Assn.
Rather than use his position on the NRA board to speak out against the corruption and embezzlement everyone knew was happening, Robison chose to do nothing and say nothing.
Partly because of Robinson’s inaction, the once mighty NRA is now in shambles. Its Executive Director and CFO are pending criminal charges, it is insolvent, and will soon be out of business.
Robinson was in a position where not only could he speak out against what was being done by the executives at the NRA, it was his DUTY to speak out against it.
And he failed to do so.
Seems to be a trend with him and it is why he cannot be NC’s next governor.
Mark Robinson is a blowhard who talks big and then does nothing. What he did at NRA, he has also done as Lt. Governor – nothing. He is all talk and no “do”.
As to the NRA, the Gun Owners of America has always been a more dependable pro-gun organization anyway.
Aryn Schloemer is one of the most forthright, fearless Patriots I know. I truly hope she will run for governor one day!
Hear hear!! Great idea.
I asked her if I could work on her campaign staff – as a volunteer. Fingers crossed. 🙂
BUT—-WHY WON’T DALE FOLWELL SPEAK OUT on the mess our children are becoming with transgender politics! If he refuses to honor parents rights to protect their children from such obvious Frankenstein mutilation procedures horribly mislabeled ‘science’, then we are going nowhere fast. We’ve already seen how these innocents are turned into weapons against the rest of us. GOD HAVE MERCY on this nation….we’ve forgotten what made us a great, compassionate and unique nation.
bonnie
You haven’t noticed Folwell in court over the last year or so fighting to keep the state health plan from paying for transgender surgery? You can really learn so much and open your eyes with a little time on google. It’s easy to talk trash and rant. Robinson is great at that. Folwell has actually done stuff. This race is between a doer and a ranter. Please do some research before you vote. But I’m sure you and your koolaid drinking friends have already early voted for your bloated messiah.
On Google, MAGA Senator J. D. Vance of Ohio is calling for the breakup of Google as a very leftwing biased information firm whose bias amounts to election interference. No thinking conservative would use them as a search engine. Try DuckDuckGo or even better BraveSearch. Google is as biased as it gets. Even Bing is more honest.
BING is an acronym.
Bing
Is
Not
Google
Mark Robinson is a pompous wannabe that is only good at running his mouth telling people what he thinks they want to hear and fattening his wallet. It is hard to believe people can’t see through this charlatan. Please do your research. Folwell will serve us well.
Mark Robinson is a Hummingator! He has the mind of a Hummingbird and the mouth of an Alligator!