ElectIL| Date set to name Ozinga 11th CD GOP nominee

3/25/2008

Date set to name Ozinga 11th CD GOP nominee

Republicans in the 11th congressional district have announced an April 30th meeting date to name a new nominee to replace New Lenox mayor Tim Baldermann on the November ballot. As we reported here on March 20th, the GOP is expected to tap concrete magnate Martin Ozinga III in their bid to retain retiring Cong. Jerry Weller's seat. Ozinga's looming candidacy has reached the mainstream media:

GOP leaning toward concrete company owner for Weller seat - Chicago Tribune

Cement man Ozinga likely to get GOP nod to hold onto Rep. Weller's seat - Crain's Chicago Business

Concrete owner Ozinga is likely GOP choice to replace Weller - Associated Press

Republicans Find Nominee In Weller Seat - Politico

Ozinga has announced that he's officially in:

Ready-mix concrete magnate Martin Ozinga III of Homer Glen Monday announced his candidacy for the 11th Congressional District Republican nomination.

Ozinga, 58, president of Ozinga Brothers, Mokena, said in a statement that he decided to run "at the urging of Republican leaders, 11th District voters and my family," and that he is running to "be a positive part of the process of returning to the foundational truths established by our forefathers."

And lest you think it had been forgotten, the Tribune reminds of Ozinga's ties to a minority-contracting fraud investigation:

Ozinga did not return messages seeking comment Monday. His company surfaced in a 2005 Tribune investigation in which documents and interviews showed the firm repeatedly dodged City of Chicago rules and exploited an affirmative-action program to win lucrative contracts.

Crain's Chicago Business columnist Greg Hinz reports some information on Ozinga that looks to be incorrect:

Party sources said they believe Mr. Ozinga, who was not available for comment, will be able to self-finance much of his late-starting campaign. But word of his selection already is drawing fire from some party activists, who note that he has been a major donor to Gov. Rod Blagojevich, giving the Chicago Democrat $10,000 late in 2005.

This needs clarification by Ozinga. A contributions search for "Ozinga" on the Illinois State Board of Elections website does turn up a $10k donation to Friends of Blagojevich in late 2005. The donor is listed as Martin Ozinga, but the Evergreen Park address matches the one listed in other donations with Martin Ozinga, Jr. - Ozinga III's father. It's reasonable to assume this was a donation made by Ozinga's father and not him. Ozinga needs to get this clarification on the record sooner, rather than later. See for yourself:

As we reported here earlier, Ozinga III has given to Mayor Daley, Jesse White and Dick Durbin. Additionally, his concrete firm has made a slew of political contributions to old guard, establishment Republicans, among them:

George Ryan

Pate Phillip

Lee Daniels

Paul Vallas

Christine Radogno

Renee Kosol

Paul Froehlich (when he was a Republican)

Patrick O'Malley

Jim Durkin

Filed Under: Race for Congress

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