CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As this election season ramps up, WCNC Charlotte is verifying the ads you see on your television.
For the next few months, we will focus on both the presidential race and the North Carolina governor’s race when it comes to which ads we verify.
We will look at ads by the campaigns themselves as well as ones put together by political action committees, also known as PACs. Up first is an ad against current Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson.
This ad is paid for by Josh Stein, who is running against Robinson as the Democratic gubernatorial candidate. In the ad, there are several claims about Precious Beginnings, a daycare previously run by Robinson and his wife in Greensboro.
OUR SOURCES:
Check out the documents below:
THE CLAIM:
There were uncovered electrical outlets around 1-year-old children.
ANSWER:
WHAT WE FOUND:
We sifted through years of state inspections between 2005 to 2007 -- that's when the Robinsons operated Precious Beginnings. The daycare received its permit in May of 2003.
According to inspection records from NCDHHS, a 2005 inspection found electrical outlets in the room for 1-year-old children were left uncovered. Center operators said there were safety features that did not require a cover. That device was found in the infant room but there were no safety device outlets in the 1-year-old rooms.
THE CLAIM:
Precious Beginnings was cited for 1 and 2-year-olds not being supervised.
THE ANSWER:
WHAT WE FOUND:
During a 2005 site inspection, records show the caregiver for 1-year-olds and 2-year-olds was sitting outside on the porch at Precious Beginnings talking to visitors instead of in the room with the children.
THE CLAIM:
The ad states that the documents show Precious Beginnings operated without lights, heat, or running water.
THE ANSWER:
WHAT WE FOUND:
There was an official complaint sent to DHHS in 2007 that claimed Previous Beginnings had been "using the oven for heating as the gas had been cut off for a period of time. The lights in the daycare have been cut off several times. It is unknown if the daycare has running water at this time."
However, while this was a complaint there was no official state record that shows this was true. It was only sent as a complaint.
THE CLAIM:
Inspectors found falsified staff credentials and no criminal background checks.
THE ANSWER:
WHAT WE FOUND:
NCDHHS records showed that during a visit in June of 2007, "Files for the owner and the husband of the owner contain North Carolina Early Childhood Credential Certificates when the Work Force Unit of the Division of Child Development did not have a record of having issued credentials." The report states the Work Office is the only office that distributes these certificates.
As for background checks: during that same visit, the report states "Criminal Records Qualifying letters are on file for the owner and the husband of the owner. The Criminal Records Unit of the Division did not have a record of having ever received criminal records forms nor issued qualifying letters for the owner or the owner's husband."
Several viewers are also asking WCNC Charlotte if this is a real video from the daycare. These are dramatized images, not video of the real daycare.
THE CLAIM:
The day care was unsanitary.
THE ANSWER:
WHAT WE FOUND:
Sanitation inspection records from 2002 to 2007 show that although there were some demerits, Precious Beginnings was granted "Superior" ratings, which is the highest rating on the list.
Contact Meghan Bragg at mbragg@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.