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Democrats hope Weller retirement opens door in 11th District
By Deanna Bellandi
Associated Press
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CHICAGO -- Republican chances of retaining retiring Rep. Jerry Weller's seat in Congress didn't look good for a while. | Interactive video: Create your own 11th District debate | Candidate bios

Weller had decided not to seek an eighth term amid ethics questions, then the winner of the GOP primary bailed out — leaving Democrats relishing the prospect of taking over the district that stretches from the south Chicago suburbs to the farms of Central Illinois.

But GOP leaders reinvigorated the race in April by turning to wealthy suburban concrete company owner Marty Ozinga to defend the seat against Democrat Debbie Halvorson, a high-ranking Illinois state senator, and Green Party newcomer Jason Wallace.

``My opponent was all but declaring victory, which was understandable. Without a candidate, the Republicans weren't looking good,'' said the 58-year-old Ozinga, president of Mokena-based Ozinga Bros., an 80-year-old family business known for its red-and-white-striped trucks.

Now Ozinga and Halvorson are locked in what both campaigns say is sure to be a tight contest.

The 11th District has been reliably Republican, but has seen some movement toward the Democrats. Voters backed President Bush in 2004, but this winter more Democrats than Republicans turned out to vote in the presidential primary when Illinois Sen. Barack Obama was on the ballot.

``It's a very much a 50-50 district; it could go either way,'' said Halvorson, 50, of Crete.

A state senator since 1997, Halvorson's campaign is focused on issues from affordable health care — she wants small businesses to bargain collectively for lower premiums — to the Iraq war, where the U.S. commitment is ``not open-ended,'' according to her campaign Web site. Halvorson's stepson was recently wounded while serving in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan.

Halvorson, who once worked as a cosmetics saleswoman, is counting on longtime ties to the district to convince voters she is touch with them and Ozinga is out of step.

In her first campaign ad, she talks about some of the financial struggles she faced when she was a single mother; in another ad, she accuses Ozinga of being ``out of touch'' with the plight of millions of uninsured Americans.

Ozinga, who lives in Will County, is running on an image as a political outsider — even using www.iamnotapolitician.com as one of his Web sites.

Still, it's not his first attempt at politics. Four years ago Ozinga interviewed, but wasn't picked, for a chance to be the replacement Republican candidate in the U.S. Senate race that ultimately sent Obama to Washington.

Ozinga's top issues: Taxes, illegal immigration

Describing himself as religious and a ``conservative person,'' Ozinga's top issues include illegal immigration and taxes. He says on his campaign Web site that he would oppose amnesty and taxpayer benefits for immigrants in the U.S. illegally. He also says he wants to lower income tax rates and make earlier tax cuts permanent.

Wallace, the third-party candidate, is a 26-year-old recent graduate of Illinois State University who lives in Normal.

All three candidates agree the faltering economy is a central issue facing the district.

``People are really worried about what's going on,'' said Wallace, who believes the economy would get a boost from a new energy policy that created green-collar jobs.

Ozinga touts his experience running the family business as proof of his economic credentials. He wants tax policies that encourage small business investment and the reinvestment of profits to help create more jobs.

Halvorson touts a plan for middle-class tax relief that would include letting homeowners who don't itemize deduct their property taxes from their federal income taxes and doubling a child tax credit for middle class families who earn up to $100,000, according to her Web site.

Ozinga has attempted to tie Halvorson to unpopular Gov. Rod Blagojevich, and raps her for being a leader in Illinois' Democratic-controlled state government, where fighting among Democrats and the governor has made it difficult to even pass a budget.

Halvorson has downplayed her ability to affect the Springfield gridlock even though she is the Senate majority leader and a deputy to powerful Senate President Emil Jones.

And Halvorson has criticized Ozinga for his own connection to Blagojevich: a $10,000 donation to the governor in 2005 that she called an example of ``pay-to-play'' politics that has dominated state ethics reform. Ozinga told the Chicago Tribune that he contributed the money so he and other concrete industry officials could meet with the governor about concerns over state construction projects.

Ozinga said he regretted giving money to Blagojevich because of his leadership style but denied the donation was ethically flawed.

Democrats are pumping money into the race for Weller's seat, hoping to win at least one of two open Republican seats in Congress from Illinois. The other seat is that of retiring GOP Rep. Ray LaHood of Peoria, which state Rep. Aaron Schock, a Republican, is heavily favored to win.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has spent more than $610,000 in the 11th District race. Emily's list, which works to elect female Democrats who support abortion rights, also is spending money to defeat Ozinga, who has called himself a ``strong pro-life person.''

On the Republican side, Ozinga campaign manager Andy Sere said the conservative advocacy group Freedom's Watch has paid for an automated phone call to voters. The National Republican Congressional Committee has so far given the campaign $84,000, Sere said.

Halvorson and the Democrats also are hoping to benefit from having Obama at the top of the ticket as the home-state presidential candidate.

Ozinga said it will help him if Republican presidential candidate John McCain carries the district on Election Day, but he isn't worried.

"We're not anticipating ... significant coattails one way or the other," Ozinga said.

Take a look
Illinois Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson, left, squares off against Green Party candidate Jason Wallace, center, and Republican Marty Ozinga in the 11th Congressional District race. (The Pantagraph/Ryan Denham)
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Reader comments on this story - 21 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

ScruffMcGruff wrote on Oct 1, 2008 1:42 PM:

" I usually don't put much stock in the political ads we are subjected to watch on TV, but did you guys see the picture of Halvorson in in one of Ozinga's last few commercials? She looks like a weasel!!! It reminds me of the Michael Dukakis smear ad that Bush Sr. put out that pretty much ended Dukakis' campaign. I don't know whether or not the ad will help Ozinga in any way, but what I do know is that I always have a good laugh when I see that picture of her... "

IlliniAlumni wrote on Oct 1, 2008 12:39 PM:

" If we don't acknowledge Venture or Bundy, will they go away? Probably not. They're like those people who come to the door to save your soul without any concern for who you are, what you think, or where you're coming from. Blowhards will keep talking even if nobody is listening but please don't encourage them. 10-1 odds they confuse the issue with some off-based, inflammatory return post. Some people just can't help themselves... "

real american wrote on Oct 1, 2008 12:14 PM:

" Because of the spending mess the "Republicans" have put this country in, the Democrats are now able to use our staple message of fiscal responsibility. George Bush has ruined the Republican party for a very long time i'm afraid. To use a line from the best President this country has ever had, I didn't leave the Republican party, the Republican party left me. "

Scapegoat wrote on Oct 1, 2008 12:02 PM:

" albundy54 - Ozinga does a lot of business in the Chicagoland area, particularly the south suburbs. If you're worried about avoiding potential Chicago corruption, he's not your candidate any more than is Halvorson. "

albundy54 wrote on Oct 1, 2008 11:20 AM:

" AlexP I find it fitting that a liberal demoract ie.socialist such as yourself would use terms like borsch and comrade. It certainly does personafie the fact that you truly are longing for the United States to become a communist country. That is not going to happen so why not catch a flight to Havana, or Bejing? You would be most comfortable in a non capitalist country and let the government fulfill your every need. "

albundy54 wrote on Oct 1, 2008 9:21 AM:

" I would much rather have a business owner in Congress than another crooked Chicago democratic career politician. Ozinga all the way. "

Gryfalia wrote on Oct 1, 2008 9:19 AM:

" The advertisements they have both been running have turned me off to both of them. Any other choices out there I can vote for? "

Scapegoat wrote on Oct 1, 2008 8:38 AM:

" "Describing himself as religious and a 'conservative person'..." Let me tell you, he sure acts like it when he's running his "family business." Ha! I'm no fan of Halverson, but one thing Marty Ozinga definitely is not is in touch with the problems of average Americans. Vote Green? "

airhead wrote on Oct 1, 2008 8:18 AM:

" to markets work: Is that what you said about the Republicans when they were in control of the Presidency, Senate and House, for how many years. Recent years? I am tired of that excuse/reason too. It is time for the candidates to step up to the plate and all Americans too. We can't just rely on Democrat parties, Republican parties, etc. They have both let us down big time. It is a new day. We have to act like it. If they act ignorant we have to vote accordingly not just what we hope they stand for. "

airhead wrote on Oct 1, 2008 8:14 AM:

" to venture bros: that was the argument people used against Judy Topinka regarding Ryan. And we still have Blagojevich. I can't really see where he is better. We are going to have to take some chances. One thing is obvious if you are from Chicago, central Illinois doesn't want to vote for you. What happened to voting for the candidate and what they stand for? I guess you can move and be from Champaign and that is okay? If you say something stupid, the Chicago candidate is still the worse one just because they have a a Chicago address? "

markets work wrote on Oct 1, 2008 7:33 AM:

" alexp - you need to check your facts. The Dems have the majority in both the state and federal. This mess we are in is due to their overspending and failed programs. "

RCS wrote on Oct 1, 2008 7:20 AM:

" alexp; how about getting the facts; pull your head out, there is honest news out there. "

Not so Political wrote on Oct 1, 2008 7:19 AM:

" Ozinga, just another Chicago man. Mosy likely if you name your town to him he would not have a clue where it is. "

Bluedog wrote on Oct 1, 2008 6:23 AM:

" Debbie went to the dance with Emil Jones and even let Blago " cut in " a couple of times . Unfortuneatley she hasn't been " dancing with the stars " . It will be a nail biter ! "

Pontiac resident wrote on Oct 1, 2008 5:35 AM:

" I doubt Illinois needs another Blagojevich puppet to take Weller's seat. Probably see some unknow Republican come forward hopefully? Weller comes from a strong farming community, tradisionally Republican. So, don't get your hopes up, Jesse junior. "

OGS wrote on Oct 1, 2008 12:01 AM:

" The dems were supposed to put Bush in line and didn't so there are not ANY dems that will get my vote. "

GATXER wrote on Sep 30, 2008 8:36 PM:

" Well in Nov I will be voting for Obama and Ozinga.......shes way to much like Blago for me to vote for......Not now or ever. Just what IL needs a Blago clone in DC....I think not. "

alexp wrote on Sep 30, 2008 8:11 PM:

" To Venture: I think your Republican buddies have done a good enough job of bankrupting the country that our state is peanuts in comparison. Good luck at the bread line comrade because they will be long. The government borscht only lasts so long because the government is busy bailing out the fat cats on Wall St. while the rest of us lose our jobs. "

Lighthouse wrote on Sep 30, 2008 7:40 PM:

" Halverson is from Crete and Ozinga sells con-crete! "

Jarhead71 wrote on Sep 30, 2008 6:48 PM:

" So, did I miss something in the article? Ozinga lives in Will County, Wallace lives in Normal. Where does Halvorson live? She is counting on long time ties to the district? What, she does not live in the district? She did not have to pay to play to see the Governor, she is deputy to the Governor's mentor. "

Venture Bros. wrote on Sep 30, 2008 6:30 PM:

" Halverson is nothing more than a puppet appendage to Gov. Blago....and a reliable mouth piece for Emil Jones and Blago in the senate...voting for her is voting for the same liberal faliure that has bankrupted our state. "
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