2 in 50th House race get money from fan of conservative GOP

A Lake Forest businessman known for supporting conservative Republicans has donated to two of the four people seeking the nomination for 50th House District seat in the state legislature.

Richard Uihlein, owner and chief executive officer of Uline company, gave $5,300 apiece to the campaigns of Oswego residents Julie Cosimo and Keith Wheeler, according to financial reports filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections.

The amount is the most an individual can contribute to a campaign during the election cycle.

Cosimo and Wheeler are among 12 candidates for the General Assembly to whom Uihlein gave money, totaling $63,600, since Jan. 1.

He has also given $5,000 apiece to Bill Prim, who is running in the Republican primary for McHenry County sheriff, and Andrew Gasser, who is running in the Republican primary for McHenry County Board District 1. Uihlein also gave $5,300 to Lake County clerk candidate Carla Wyckoff.

In that time, Uihlein contributed $100,000 to Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner, $10,500 to the Family-Pac political action committee, and $1.5 million to the Liberty Principles political action committee.

Cosimo also has received $7,300 in cash, and $1,685 worth of campaign-sign work.

Wheeler has $3,000, including a transfer from the Friends of Jim Oberweis. Oberweis is the 25th District state senator who is running for Congress.

William Keck, one of the other people running for the 50th District nomination, has not filed a campaign disclosure report. A report is not required until a candidate has raised or spent more than $5,000. The fourth candidate, Beth Goncher, has not filed any A-1 reports, which are required for donations of more than $1,000.