DNR Board Halts Land Sale To Walker Donor

The state Natural Resources Board has delayed a proposed lakefront land deal in northern Wisconsin involving major donors to Gov. Scott Walker.

The Department of Natural Resources wants to sell about two acres of state-owned property on Rest Lake in Vilas County for $275,000 to Elizabeth Uihlein, the owner of an adjacent condo development. She and her husband donated $2.5 million to Walker’s political action committee.

At the urging of Chairman Preston Cole, the board pushed back the proposed sale until at least January. Cole said the state should wait and include the deal in a larger Walker administration plan to sell about 10,000 acres around Wisconsin.

“That way the public can fully vet the properties,” Cole said. “There will be several opportunities to look at these properties online. If people have concerns, we can hear those loud and clear.”

A spokesperson for Elizabeth Uihlein said the proposed land deal is unrelated to Uihlein’s support of the governor.