POLITICS

Influential Republican businessman Sheldon Lubar sharply criticizes Walker for lame-duck session

Meg Jones

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Sheldon Lubar has been a powerful and influential Republican in Wisconsin for decades, and a strong supporter of Gov. Scott Walker.

Until now.

In a sharply worded email sent to Walker over the lunch hour Tuesday, Lubar pointedly criticized the governor and asked him to consider what the governor's recently deceased father and Jesus Christ would say about his actions regarding legislative efforts to limit the powers of Gov.-elect Tony Evers and Attorney General-elect Josh Kaul.

With a subject line that said simply "Proposed Legislation Change," Lubar asked Walker to do the right thing and refuse to follow and support Republican legislative leaders.

"I am not proud to read in the Milwaukee newspapers and learn the conniving that Wisconsin Republicans, led by you and certain others, are planning," Lubar wrote.

Lubar, a prominent Milwaukee businessman and philanthropist, reminded Walker that he voted for him when Walker ran for Milwaukee County executive and three times for governor, including the recall attempt. But Lubar said he didn't vote for Walker in November.

Milwaukee businessman and philanthropist Sheldon Lubar.

"If you are asking why I changed, I must say I didn't, you did. You let your presidential political ambitions supersede your duties and obligations to the people of Wisconsin. This was too much for me."

Lubar pleaded with Walker not to destroy his reputation by siding with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald.

'What they are planning for the Republican Party of Wisconsin will malign its integrity and lead to its downfall. Worse, it will damage Wisconsin as it ignores the will of the majority of Wisconsin voters."

Representatives of Walker, Vos and Fitzgerald did not respond to emailed requests for comment.

Lubar joined the Young Republicans his second year at the University of Wisconsin Law School and held appointed positions under Republican governors Warren Knowles, Lee Dreyfus, Tommy Thompson and Scott McCallum.

The founder and chairman of Lubar & Co., a private investment company in Milwaukee, Lubar was president of the University of Wisconsin System's Board of Regents, president of the Milwaukee Art Museum, trustee and acting chairman of the State of Wisconsin Investment Board and in 1991 served as co-chairman of the Governor's Conference on Small Business.

He also served as an appointee in Washington, D.C., under three presidents. Under President Richard Nixon, Lubar served as assistant secretary, housing production and mortgage credit in the Department of Housing and Urban Development; commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration; and director of the Federal National Mortgage Association, completing his service under President Gerald Ford.

President Jimmy Carter appointed him commissioner of the White House Conference on Small Business.