Uihleins spend big to help Ron Johnson defend Senate seat from Russ Feingold

Last edited Tue Oct 6, 2015, 08:31 AM - Edit history (1)

It's not enough that Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein are trying to buy up and lock down important parcels of property in northern Wisconsin.

The Uihleins — owners of Pleasant Prairie-based Uline Corp. — also are staking a claim in the hotly contested race between U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and his predecessor, former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold.

Records show that the Uihleins and their company already have pumped at least $1.3 million into three outside groups putting up ads either helping Johnson, a Republican, or criticizing Feingold, a Democrat.

The election, of course, is still 13 months away.

Most recently, Uline Corp. gave $500,000 to Club for Growth's super PAC, making the company the biggest donor by far to the national conservative group this year. Uline's support represents more than two-thirds of Club for Growth's total take of $762,767 in 2015.

The Uline money arrived a few months before the group launched a $700,000 ad campaign attacking Feingold. Club for Growth has announced that it hopes to spend more than three times that amount helping to re-elect Johnson.

Tom Russell, campaign manager for Feingold, said it's not surprising that out-of-state multimillionaires are "bankrolling" his opponent's campaign via Club for Growth. Russell said they are doing this because Johnson supported, among other things, the policies that led to the 2013 federal government shutdown.

Earlier this year, Richard Uihlein chipped in $800,000 to two conservative political action committees running TV and radio spots on the race — $300,000 to Restoration PAC and an additional $500,000 to Americas PAC.

Richard Uihlein, who lives in Lake Forest, Ill., did not return calls last week. But in an August email, he told No Quarterthat his company and family have deep roots in the state.

"My company's corporate headquarters are located in Pleasant Prairie, WI. Wisconsin is a very important part of our business," Richard Uihlein wrote.

It goes even further than that.

The Uihleins — who own property in northern Wisconsin — have come under scrutiny in recent weeks for asking Gov. Scott Walker's administration to approve two land deals that would benefit them.

First, Elizabeth Uihlein is trying to buy 1.75 acres of prime lakefront property in Vilas County from the Department of Natural Resources. Richard Uihlein also wants state approval to tie down a 12-acre floating bog to keep it away from his family property.

The politically active couple has given some $3 million in support of Walker's successful gubernatorial and unsuccessful presidential campaigns.

full article here: http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/noquarter/330585321.html