Sun-Times News Group columnist Kristen McQueary, generally regarding as hard-nosed but fair-minded, dives into Martin Ozinga III’s “lucrative” contracts with the city of Chicago and other government agencies. She also takes a gander at his and his company’s big bucks donations to Democratic candidates and groups.

Given his donor history it is a bit surprising that Mr. Ozinga is the Republican candidate for Congress in the open Illinois 11th, not the Dem:

…Ozinga has given Gov. Rod Blagojevich at least $20,000, including a $10,000 donation in 2005 during a fundraising luncheon.

Ozinga has opened his checkbook for gubernatorial candidates, Chicago aldermen, Mayor Richard Daley, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District officials and city ward organizations.

His company, Ozinga Bros., holds a lucrative and powerful position as the sole provider of concrete for city of Chicago projects.

McQueary asks the question on many folks’ minds regarding this replacement candidate…

Can a person with those ties, landing those deals, floating in that stratosphere, stay clean?

And then offers us her take as someone reporting day in and day out on those insiders…

After 40 minutes, I wasn’t entirely convinced. For railing against the system, Ozinga is doing pretty well within it [...]

But I wasn’t unconvinced either. [...]

(emphasis added)

After being represented by Congressman Jerry “Most Corrupt” Weller and subsequently being abandoned by him as he retires to spend more time with his family (and perhaps his Central American land deals), Illinoisans in the 11th district are likely weary of anyone with a whiff of corruption near them. This is likely why Republicans are twisting themselves into pretzels trying to tie Sen. Debbie Halvorson (the actual Dem candidate) to Gov. Rod Blagojevich. In light of Mr. Ozinga’s past support for Blago, that spin doesn’t quite wash.

Ms. McQueary spent 40 minutes talking with Mr. Ozinga about his ties to the Machine. Voters now have 6 months…

(h/t Poodle Walker)