Related To Jennifer Uihlein, Marnie Uihlein, Henry Uihlein. Follow him on Twitter @DanielBice. There are complaints, often muttered privately, that residents are left in the dark on projects that involve the Uihleins. The Uihleins want to bend the world their way. "But other people are treading water and there can be this resentment, 'Why do these people have so much money in the first place?'" Smokey's Restaurant and Supper Club: 6410 County Road W. Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 4:30 to 10 p.m. His giving has not followed a definitive ideological pattern. "We are trying to get this to be a tourist destination," she said. more, was requiring its workforce to stay on the job, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The PAC for Koch Industries gave Tiffany $9,000, nearly the maximum. Offering an outstanding variety of different accommodations all overlooking the birch and pine-crested bay of Spider Lake in Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin. Nearby, tourists pedaled their bicycles along a 17-mile paved bike trail to Boulder Junction. Skeptics of Uihlein and IPIs approach worry theyve left the Republican Party fractured and they wish hed taken a less combative approach. Premier Host. Hes a more thoughtful donor than a lot of people he pays a lot of attention and he checks up on things, said Jack Miller, a longtime friend of Uihleins and namesake of the Jack Miller Center, a nonprofit focused on the teaching of Americas founding principles and history. The 5.5-mile looped trail and bridge have the support of Elizabeth Uihlein, president of Pleasant Prairie-based Uline Corp. and a part-time resident of the Town of Manitowish Waters.. A walking . "You got a dying town with beautiful assets up there," Elizabeth Uihlein said in a private dining room at Uline's headquarters in Pleasant Prairie. The Uihleins have long been a reliable source of midrange campaign checks but hadnt invested much in candidates outside Illinois and Wisconsin prior to the 2016 presidential election. "The whole thing is dying up there. [8][9] The company expanded rapidly and is now one of the largest U.S. privately held companies; in 2014, Forbes estimated a company value of between $700 million and $2 billion. It wasnt excessive, it was more just her two cents on things. Liz Uihlein, co-founding of Uline, is a major Trump donor spending millions on right-wing causes. It's a comfortable place to relax, read and converse with friends.all in the solitude and beauty of Wisconsin's Northwoods. Now many Republicans worry that, win or lose in the primary, Ives is successfully damaging Rauners already wobbly reputation and creating an opening for Democrats to take back the governorship. But next weeks winner will serve only the remainder of Duffys term, which ends in January. Uihlein donated heavily to Rauner when he first ran for governor in 2014. They supported Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, who has suggested that reducing Alaskan oil flows could diminish caribou mating. "We have a beautiful 10-lake chain. Ft. $150,000. Eight different super PACs that receive Uihlein funds, including the Club for Growth, have signaled their support for Nicholson, convinced by Nicholsons conversion story , as Uihlein was. Perhaps nothing illustrates the couples determination to set the agenda more than their efforts in the Wisconsin town of Manitowish Waters. The channel host recent sermons from our Pastor, Chips Paulson. These independent groups, called Super PACs, can raise unlimited amounts of money, from people, unions and corporations, and then spend it, but are prohibited from coordinating with candidates. [3] A member of the Uihlein family, he is a descendant of the brewers of Schlitz beer. Disclaimers on their websites, however, say funding is provided, in part, by advocacy groups. Proft called that out of date. [1] Uihlein has contributed tens of millions to conservative campaigns and causes. Like a lot of conservatives, they bounced between a few candidates, said Eric OKeefe, director of Club for Growths Wisconsin arm. , a political science professor at the University of WisconsinStevens Point who has been involved with the redistricting process in the state. , has spent It was probably the most offensive thing Ive seen in a state race, said Pat Brady, the former Illinois Republican chairman. All of it is owned by Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein, which makes them billionaires according to Forbes magazine. A Wisconsin state senator earns an annual salary of $52,999. , a single person can give $2,800 per election, so Tiffany and Zunker can each collect $5,600 per individual donor for the primary and special elections. The couple donated money to Walker because he supports smaller government and less regulation, she said. A nonprofit run by a longtime Uihlein adviser, John Tillman, also contributed money to the newspaper network, drawing scrutiny because of restrictions on the political activity of such groups. If [Uihlein] wants to pull the party to the right, Im all for that. They have reinforced their message by supporting a network of broadsheets and websites that resemble news outlets but that make one-sided attacks against their opponents. Sometimes, Dick Uihleins efforts unsettled his own candidates. The couple own a summer home in Manitowish Waters, a remote Wisconsin village northwest of Green Bay that Liz has transformed into her vision of a vacationers utopia. Sources said that Liz Uihlein had been in the Uline offices recentlyand did not wear a mask while there. through TV and radio commercials and campaign material sent through the mail, among other platforms. Contact Mary Spicuzzaat (414) 224-2324 ormary.spicuzza@jrn.com. Donald and LaVonne Zietlow, owners of Kwik Trip, had given a total of $8,400 as of April 22, and John Menard Jr., owner of Menards, has given $2,800. 5270 N Lake Dr, Whitefish Bay, WI 53217 is for sale. Ed Miller He has served in the state Senate since 2012. Directors House. The company pushed back on the story, saying it was doing all it could to provide supplies to hospitals and health care providers. Thecouple hasgiven $65million to GOP candidates and causes since January 2019, campaign finance records show. Liz Uihlein,an outspoken critic of Gov. She has criticized coronavirus restrictions", Manitowish Waters' main benefactors get mixed reviews, The Most Powerful Conservative Couple Youve Never Heard Of, House divided: The megadonor couple battling in the GOP's civil war, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_and_Elizabeth_Uihlein&oldid=1141046469, This page was last edited on 23 February 2023, at 02:26. Super PACs often do not have to reveal their donors. Explore the evolution of downtown Manitowish Waters and Rest Lake, highlighting the historical significance of areas along Highways W and K. Details Her hands-on. I am not the kind of person who gives money and then walks away, Elizabeth Uihlein told The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 2015 in defense of her work to improve Manitowish. Critics lambasted Rauner for, they said, being too slow to provide relief during a July flood. And he brought in conservatives, such as former Illinois Policy Institute head Kristina Rasmussen, who became Rauners new chief of staff. Liz and Dick Uihlein, founders of the shipping supply giant Uline and major donors to President Donald Trump, have tested positive for COVID-19. . Liz Uihlein is the hands-on president of Uline, the packing-supply giant the couple founded together nearly four decades ago. Elizabeth Uihlein has funded this $1 million lakefront pavilion among other projects in the Town of Manitowish Waters. against a Democratic challenger. indoor pool, whirlpool and sauna. due to the FEC until June Chippewa Retreat - Duck Blind Lower. There were all these articles: Who is going to fund the Bannon insurgency? Eberhart added, referring to Stephen K. Bannon, the estranged Trump adviser who championed attacks on the Republican establishment. Our trails are OPEN TO EVERYONE, from dawn to dusk. McDaniel called Dick Uihlein instrumental in the conservative movement, adding, theres no way to overstate his importance., The couples spending this election cycle puts them atop all Republican donors listed in federal filings so far. This is especially true in the small town of Manitowish Waters, WI, where the Uihleins have a summer home. 715-543-8700. . Their company, Uline, has among the most strict anti-drug policies in the state. The town is pretty much divided in half, said Karen Dixon, a longtime homeowner. These views reflect her husbands fervent belief in less regulation, lower taxes and cracking down on unions. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. Here in WI, they bankroll most GOP candidates and helped Walker survive the recall election in 2011. The trail was completed last year at a cost of $2.4 million. ", Lee Bergquist covers environmental issues and is author of "Second Wind: The Rise of the Ageless Athlete.". AURORA BOREALIS RESTAURANT - 27 Photos & 41 Reviews - American (New) - 6047 County Hwy W, Manitowish Waters, WI - Restaurant Reviews - Phone Number - Yelp Aurora Borealis Restaurant 41 reviews Unclaimed $$ American (New), Bars, Breakfast & Brunch Closed 7:00 AM - 11:30 AM, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM See 27 photos Aberdeen Restaurant & Bar Rustic Roadhaus After Liz Uihlein replaced a primitive bandstand there with a $1 million pavilion, she bolted down new furniture to prevent theft. A former Marine, he has never run for public office before, and recently questioned the cognitive thought process of veterans who vote Democratic. But their investments and donations also have ruffled feathers. Sleeps 94 bedrooms6 beds. Duffy cannot lobby Congress for one year following his retirement Inside the company, Liz is more visible. Sleeps 63 bedrooms4 beds. Each summer, Henry, Jr. hosts the annual Montauk Mercury Grand Slam Fishing Tournament, held at Uihlein's Marina. Richard is also an heir to the Schlitz brewing fortune. His wife, Elizabeth, runs the day-to-day operations for the business that she and her husband started together in their basement in 1980 with money borrowed from Uihleins father, the grandson of one of the founders of Schlitz Brewing Co. . (State and local tax incentives sweetened a move across the Illinois border.). All told, more than 20 Rauner staffers departed. In 2016, shortly before Uihlein joined the Trump campaign as a major fundraiser, she threatened to divert $300,000 in planned donations if the town didnt move a boat ramp that was near a pavilion she had built. Under House rules, Pamper yourself with a treatment at The Spa or shop our two unique boutiques, where you will find creative gifts, home dcor and one-of-a-kind artwork. Aberdeen Lodge. The times Ive been to Wisconsin to meet with him, hes the kind of individual who will leave his office and walk down to meet somebody, McDaniel said. Neither Uihlein nor Uline, the packaging supplies company that is somewhat eponymously named after his family, retain spokespeople or staff to handle the press. Public officials have called for investigations into whether the group violated tax law. The Uihleins own a hotel, a condominium complex, a coffee shop, restaurant, spa and two gift shops in a town where the business district runs a third of a mile before it retreats into the surrounding forest. Those who get in their way are CAVERS (Citizens Against Virtually Everything), as Liz Uihlein said in a 2014 email to an official at the Manitowish Waters Chamber of Commerce. The Uihleins happily call the Northwoods their "home away from home." Favorite Links Come for the coffee and stay for the best views in Manitowish Waters. "I'm 'up north,' my husband's political," said Elizabeth Uihlein, attributing her willingness to lavish money here to the influence of her late cousin, Martin Hanson, who is not related to John Hanson. They prefer to meet candidates in Lake Forest, Illinois, where they live, or across the Wisconsin border at Ulines corporate headquarters, where Richard Uihlein sometimes gathers groups of friends and colleagues to have conversations with candidates. In a corporate video, she is shown meeting employees and reviewing Uline catalog pages. Neither of the Uihleins attended Trump's election night watch party at the White House on Nov. 3, the spokesman said, although Uline employees incorrectly have said they did. $67. But in a statement responding to questions provided by The New York Times, the couple said,"We care about our community and our country and choose to personally support candidates that share our policy beliefs.. HUE. Koch Industries, Native American tribes and the owners of Kwik Trip and Uline are big donors and spenders in the special election race for 100% Free Records for Elizabeth Uihlein! Shes done in that community what theyre trying to do on a national scale, he said, affect elections and do their drawing of how the world should be., Las Vegas Sun, 2023, All Rights Reserved, Vegas Vipers Home Opener Against DCDefenders, Durango Beats Liberty, 57-47, in Boys 5A BasketballChampionship. (715) 543-8020. in Manitowish Waters, . Reply Richard Uihlein has given four donations totaling $26.5 million toClub for Growth Action, including a $10 million contribution in August. Wisconsins 7th Congressional District The Illinois Policy Institute, which received $2 million from the family foundation operated by Uihlein in 2016, the most recent year available, has meanwhile encountered troubles of its own. have spent more than $1.25 million in support of Tiffany Zunker had raised about $453,000 as of April 22, and spent about $328,000 Campaign Cash. I didnt agree with them for the most part.. Accommodations. But she also is known to tell other businesses what she thinks. 19.07 mi from city center. Manitowish Waters, WI 54545 Tel: 715-543-8441. 6085 County Hwy W, Manitowish Waters, WI 54545 +1 715-543-2353 Website Menu Closed now : See all hours See all (37) Ratings and reviews 4.5 49 reviews #1 of 1 Coffee & Tea in Manitowish Waters RATINGS Food Service Value Details CUISINES Cafe Meals Breakfast, Lunch FEATURES Americas PAC, a conservative group You may remember that Elizabeth Uihlein, a major Walker/Trump/GOP mover-shaker-and-donor who lives in Illinois, closed a controversial deal with the DNR for some Manitowish Waters shoreline land up north. Bannon has blown up and is no longer a factor, but post facto, Uihlein is the answer.. The tentative deal with the DNR that would give her condo property direct lake access and the Uihleins' substantial political donations have cast a spotlight on the couple's ties to Walker. If we had not been around people with COVID, we would not have been tested.". Laurence A. Barry, senior corporate counsel for Uline, defended the cutting at the planning commission meeting on Oct. 6. $210,000. But nobody wants to go into a store that looks like that.". [12] He has supported conservative groups and candidates including Ted Cruz, Roy Moore, The Club for Growth, and the Illinois Policy Institute. Dick is also an heir to the Schlitz beer family fortune. Blue Heron Ridge Road Mercer, WI 54547-Beds- Wednesday - Sunday 4:30 PM - 10:00 PM Dining Menu & Wine Menu For Reservations, Call: (715) 543-2220 Watch Our Video 5 Star Reviews: A must "eat at" restaurant! Lt0 Crater Island Mercer, WI 54547-Beds-Baths-Sq. A Canadian Broadcast Corp. investigation found thatLiz Uihlein was granted a special entry exemption into Canada in August, allowing her to skip the country's mandatory 14-day quarantine for foreign travelers. The commercial data company Dun and Bradstreet reports that Uline has estimated sales of $3.6 billion. While Mercer and other big donors like Sheldon Adelson have so far been circumspect with their money this year, Uihlein has begun to shape Republicans efforts back in the Senate. Subscribe to our On Wisconsin Politics newsletter for the week's political news explained. However, we also have to realize that there will be no absolute, perfectly safe time todo so," she said in an April statement. [9] The couple lives in Lake Forest, Illinois; they also have a summer home in Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin. Ft. $48,900. That left her with about $125,000 heading into the stretch run of the campaign. Lt10 Eagle Tree Road Presque Isle, WI 54557-Beds-Baths-Sq. One North Cook News story assailed a Democratic state lawmaker with a headline saying she dismisses constituents concerns. Another target has been the Illinois state Republican leader, an ally of the governor, who is seen as insufficiently conservative by the Uihleins. Sociologist Robert Wolensky, director of the Center for the Small City at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, said wealthy benefactors can be viewed two ways, especially in small communities. Uline, which is privately held, built a 279,000-square-foot headquarters in Pleasant Prairie in 2010, and a second, 300,000-square-foot office on the same campus in 2017. Her hands-on approach has upset some residents. On the Democratic side, Native American tribes have donated heavily to Zunker. In announcing his retirement last year, he cited family and the health complications of their unborn baby. Uline, a distributor of shipping, industrial and . Citizen Action of Wisconsin, By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. In one Illinois school district, he bankrolled a school board candidate who fought a move allowing transgender students in girls locker rooms. [12][13] Also in 2018, Uihlein gave financial support to Kevin Nicholson, a one time long-shot Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin; eight super PACs funded by Uihlein also expressed support for Nicholson. Richard Uihlein later signaled support for Trump by donating to the pro-Trump Great America PAC and giving $500,000 to Trumps inauguration. Duffy, an Ashland County District Attorney who had been a cast member on MTV shows like The Real World and Road Rules before becoming a prosecutor, won the seat. 5970 County Highway W. Manitowish Waters, WI 54545. The same rules hold for PACs, which are limited to either $2,800 or $5,000 per election, depending on whether the PAC supports one candidate or multiple, respectively. She appears to refer to a mystery buyer in an email to a chamber of commerce officer in 2014, shortly after her purchase. By tweet, of course. Discover first-class hospitality at The Lodge in downtown Manitowish Waters. For Appointments, Call: (715) 543-2223 5 Star Reviews: Lovely atmosphere to relax! Since they basically own the legislature, there isn't any way of legalization in WI anytime soon or whenever their money stops flowing into the WI GOP coffers. Fall in Manitowish Waters means adventuring on the scenic backroads, finding peace and solitude on the hiking and biking trails, fishing on the lakes, sipping warm drinks at local taverns and restaurants, and at the . Dick Uihlein (pronounced YOU-line), a scion of one of the founders of Schlitz beer, underwrites firebrand anti-establishment candidates who typically defend broad access to assault weapons and assail transgender rights. Bruce Rauner, Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein are supporting his primary challenger, Jeanne Ives. They have spent millions remaking the small community and buying up much of its downtown. They are riding the fine line between legal and illegal, and coordinated and not coordinated, in terms of political messaging allowed under state and federal campaign finance laws, said Colin Williams, policy director of Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. The couple own a summer home in Manitowish Waters, a remote Wisconsin village northwest of Green Bay that Mrs. Uihlein has transformed into her vision of a vacationer's utopia. Mickey Straub, a mayor in small Burr Ridge, Illinois, who ran unsuccessfully for the state House of Representatives, was assailed for accepting support from Dick Uihlein, whose backing of Moore in Alabama became an issue amid a flurry of negative advertising. Manitowish Waters, WI 54545; 1285 Gulf Shore Boulevard, Naples, FL 34102; North Palm Beach, FL 33408; Lake Forest, IL 60045. In the . Manitowish Waters Athletic Club Memberships | The MAC Membership Single Guest Rate Daily - Lodge Guest (2 guests; $10 per person after 2) Weekly Monthly 6 Month 12 Month $10 $5 $35 $50 $250 $450 Family Monthly 6 Month 12 Month $80 $400 $720 Purchase Memberships Membership Application & Waiver Set Up New Online Account Access Your Online Account Scott Walker's biggest financial supporters also have been involved in a controversial local land transaction with the Department of Natural Resources that would give them direct access to Rest Lake for their condo complex. Uihlein was also one of few donors to give money to a pro-Moore super PAC in last years special Senate election in Alabama after Moore was accused of having solicited women as young as 14. The Uihleins live in Lake Forest, Ill., and are the founders of a large packaging and shipping supply business that they moved to Wisconsin in 2010. the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation 715-543-2699 orders@ninesmw.com. Have the politicians gone mad? she once wrote about the legalization of the drug. Four months after Rauner signed the abortion bill, Uihlein cut $2.5 million in checks to Ives, who had finished 2017 with less than half a million dollars in her campaign. pcameron@thebadgerproject.org. an annual salary of $174,000 Between both of them, they've contributed millions to WI GOP candidates, PAC's and legal funds. It's beautiful, but it's dying. The terrain is gentle and winds through the woods, along the lake, bog and nearby Manitowish River allowing you to explore a variety of habitats each with their own unique plants and animals. The Lodge: 13859 ILG Road, Manitowish Waters. The governor-appointed Natural Resources Board tabled the pending sale last month after critics questioned the wisdom of the DNR selling lakefront land and for handling the sale differently than other sales of state-owned property the agency is planning. It was kind of her way or the highway.. A political action committee supporting Chris McDaniel, the polarizing Mississippi Senate candidate, received $750,000 from Dick Uihlein. In affluent Lake Forest, Illinois, where 90 percent of students are white, he backed a school board slate led by the chief critic of Lake Forest High Schools first black principal, who had criticized honors classes for tracking black students into lower classes. To register, call Uihlein's Marina at 631-668 . But it aggressively advertises digitally, and by widely distributing its catalog, which features more than 34,000 items, from gift wrap to shelving. Liz took on a prominent fundraising role; Dick was at the White House the day the former FBI director James B. Comey delivered his Senate testimony last year. Men wear ties and tattoos are frowned upon. None of Manitowish Waters' businesses Smokey's, a steak house; The Lodge, a hotel; and other properties is profitable, she said. Tiffany had raised about $1.4 million and spent about $1.1 million through April 22, according to the final campaign finance data report due before the election. Lived In Milwaukee WI, Mequon WI, Sarasota FL. 8729 US Highway 51 N, Minocqua, WI, 54548. While Uihlein has given to establishment-backed Senate candidate Josh Hawley in Missouri, his stable of candidates during the past year consisted mostly of conservative bomb-throwers like Ives, anti-establishment state Sen. Chris McDaniel in Mississippi and Roy Moore in Alabama. The MAC is a first-class fitness center featuring the latest equipment, indoor pool, hot tub, beautiful locker rooms, sauna and more. [22] Uihlein is also the "largest donor behind Women Speak Out a [PAC] seeking to federally outlaw abortion. Aberdeen Restaurant & Bar. The $40 million the Uihleins gave to bigots could have provided a $3 per hour wage increase for each of their 6,000 employees. Home Values By City. By doing so, you are causing unnecessary panic in the office.". These guys are making hundreds of thousands of dollars off him., Proft dismissed Brady as a flack for Rauner., In his responses, Dick Uihlein said he had long worked with Proft and Tillman advancing conservative principles and believed they have both done so admirably.. The water is fantastic. Dick Uihlein also funded a political mailer resembling a newspaper in Texas, though it later emerged in a criminal trial that a candidate and his aides had misappropriated much of Dicks $800,000 donation. Lake frontage land trade proposed in Vilas County between DNR, Uihlein, DNR investigating unauthorized path improvements on state land, DNR board tables sale of lakefront land to Walker donor, DNR agrees to sell prime lake frontage to big Scott Walker donor. west allegheny school district athletics; activity for simile, metaphor and personification; edward nunez shriver; will lime kill fleas in carpet; rizal deserves to be called a doctor because Both candidates say they will run in November for the full term. [7] He has been a longtime donor to Republicans who share his ultra-conservative views. Nicholsons long shot status seems to be almost beside the point. Their civic engineering can be just as calculating, as the people of Manitowish Waters can attest. where they own businesses and property and have spent lavishly on public projects Quality Inn. I know she gives a lot of money, but with all of our tax money, we pay a lot, too.". . about $250,000 in broadcast ads attacking Zunker Mar 5 - Mar 6. . The Uihleins dont often attend glitzy donor retreats, such as the twice-yearly summits for donors to the Koch network, to which they contribute money. The town doesn't have enough input on what the trail was going to look like. The Uihleins responded to questions for this article both jointly and individually. The money had to come from elsewhere.". Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Schlitz Brewing Co. in Milwaukee. Although she has donated millions of dollars for various improvements,. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Uline lacks a visible corporate communications department and has a moribund Twitter account, unusual for a company with more than 6,000 employees. Liz Uihlein is President/Co-Founder at Uline Inc. See Liz Uihlein's compensation, career history, education, & memberships. Please enable javascript before you are allowed to see this page. Liz is his wife and a Chicago native that has extremely far right political views. "We are as important to this town as Liz. [21], Uihlein was a major financial backer for the rally that preceded the January 6 attack on the Capitol. She has lamented that government regulations are costing us all, complained about government spending (Every time I turn around I hear someone mention they are applying for a grant to pay for this or that) and called for a renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, saying that current trade agreements have not worked out so well.. Whether you want to shed a few pounds, strengthen your inner core or maintain a healthy lifestyle, the MAC is equipped with everything you need to reach your goals: Precor treadmills and ellipticals Liz removed the furniture. Then in September, Rauner signed a bill expanding taxpayer-funded abortion that conservatives widely expected him to veto a clear signal that conservative Republicans didnt control the governorship. It is usually Dick Uihlein they want to see. W, Manitowish Waters, WI 54545. The chain of lakes also includes a section of the 44-mile Manitowish River, a great destination for paddlesports. After a falling out with Illinois Gov. 6011 County Hwy. The Uihleins interests in getting rid of government regulations and cutting taxes are well-aligned with the Trump administrations goals. She is paying for a consultant to develop a branding strategy for the community, which has a year-around population of about 700 people. "I can't say enough about what a good guy I think he is and what he stands for. Im very entrepreneurial, dominating. The sign for the summer home of Dick and Liz Uihlein, in Manitowish Waters, Wis., May 22, 2018. "We have to look at what the tourists are looking for.". They have also owned a condominium, hotels, a coffee shop, a spa and a supper club in. It was a major victory for Uihlein and officials at IPI, who had for years been prodding Rauner to govern more conservatively. Businesses of EAU Holdings owned and operated by the Uihlein family. Karla Jurvetson, a California physician and another heavy liberal donor, also donated the maximum $5,600 to Zunker. They said no.. The candidate, Kevin Nicholson, was initially met with skepticism from fellow Republicans due to his past role as president of the College Democrats of America until Uihlein decided to support Nicholson after a meeting with him, brokered by a mutual friend. The billionaire Uihleins, dubbed the "most powerful conservative couple youve never heard of" by theNew York Times, live in Lake Forest, Illinois, but frequently list Pleasant Prairie as their home address for campaign purposes.