Robinson says ‘conflict of interest’ in state’s review of family’s nonprofit, citing Stein’s wife’s employment

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R) is accusing a state agency of having a “conflict of interest” in its review of his wife’s nonprofit because that agency also employs the wife of his opponent in the governor’s race, Atty. Gen. Josh Stein (D).

The state Dept. of Health and Human Services recently found “serious deficiencies” at Yolanda Hill’s nonprofit organization Balanced Nutrition, which helped adult and childcare providers get access to federal subsidies to provide food. The state has ordered Balanced Nutrition to repay more than $132,000.

Robinson’s campaign spokesman Mike Lonergan now says that because Stein’s wife Anna is employed at NCDHHS, it’s a sign of the “weaponization of government” and accused the agency of “persecuting” Balanced Nutrition.

Robinson himself referenced the matter during an event in Huntersville Thursday.

“State agencies, federal agencies, the agencies that are there to protect us should not be weaponized against our citizens. They are there to protect us,” said Robinson.

Kelly Haight Connor, a spokesperson for NCDHHS, said Anna Stein has not had any involvement in the review of Balanced Nutrition and gave more details about the nature of her employment.

Following more than 10 years of full-time work with the agency in the public health division as A legal consultant, Anna Stein became a part-time employee in October 2023. Her duties “have been limited to supporting the team developing a health care toolkit for use by jails and detention centers. On average, she works 10 hours or less each week,” Haight Connor said.

In a statement, Atty. Gen. Stein said, “This attack is ridiculous and completely false.”

Stein’s campaign also noted that Anna Stein’s work is in a division that has no oversight of Balanced Nutrition and that she has not spoken to anyone at the agency about the matter.

Attorneys for Balanced Nutrition have requested an informal conference with NCDHHS regarding the review.

In an email obtained by CBS 17, Yolanda Hill wrote to NCDHHS officials on July 26, “Balanced Nutrition Inc. DOES NOT OWE the state agency $132,118.86 and I look forward to bringing this in front of an IMPARTIAL review team which DOES NOT have a political vendetta against me and/or my husband.”

As CBS 17 reported earlier this year, Hill announced she was ending the nonprofit due to the demands of her husband’s campaign for governor. Documents show the state also was conducting its compliance review with the organization.

State officials proposed disqualifying Balanced Nutrition from participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program again, as well as Yolanda Hill, Kimberly Cephas and Renee Matthews-Jones. They noted issues in various areas including recordkeeping, fiscal integrity, civil rights, and monitoring among others.

Balanced Nutrition was placed on the state’s “Suspension of Funding” list on July 12, 2021. The reason cited was failing to submit reports to NCDHHS.

A spokesperson for NCDHHS confirmed that Balanced Nutrition was added to that list because it did not submit audit reports to the agency in 2019 and 2020. However, the nonprofit continued to receive funding.

The only employees listed on Balanced Nutrition’s tax documents in recent years include Hill and her family members. Hill is listed as the chief financial officer.

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