‘Yes, candidate Ozinga, the rules do apply to you, too’

'So, what you're saying, judge, is that when I sue someone and my statements under oath are disputed by at least five different witnesses, I can be forced to give a deposition ... even thought I'm running for Congress and it might embarrass me? Outrageous!'

[Tazewell County Circuit Judge John] Barra previously included [Martin] Ozinga among parties to be deposed in the case. Orland Park-based Ozinga Bros. Inc. is suing to force Raymond Kunkel and his family farm corporation to sell 190 acres outside Henry, near the site where the company is developing a gravel pit and Illinois River port project with the city.
Ozinga and his lawyers then sought to avoid the deposition by claiming he had "no relevant knowledge" of the case or the disputed real estate contract at its center.
He claimed in the affidavit he "has had no contact or communication of any kind" with Kunkel.
But Barra heard Friday that Kunkel and four witnesses have signed their own affidavits stating Ozinga met with Kunkel in a rural Henry farmhouse in June 2004 to work out the terms of the deal that is now in dispute.
"I was amazed at the affidavit of Martin Ozinga," Kunkel's attorney, William Anderson of Creve Coeur, told Barra. "Martin Ozinga personally negotiated this contract."

Judge Barra has been mentioned several times on Peoria Pundit. I was a bit ticked at his decision to allow the City of Peoria to demolish the Grandview Hotel, a ruling I considered contrary to property rights. But he did rule that the Peoria Park District violated the Open Meetings Act, a decision that I believed defended the public's right to have an open government.

And Barra's decision regarding Ozinga? A no-brainer. Of course politicians should be forced to tell the truth under oath, whether they are running for Congress or diddling interns in the Oval Office. Ozinga, a Republican, will face state Democratic Sen. Debbie Halvorson, and Green Party nominee Jason Wallace in November for the 11th Congressional seat now held by Jerry Weller, also a Republican. The district includes LaSalle, Grundy and Kankakee counties, and parts of of Will, McLean, Livingston, Woodford and Bureau counties.

Cross posted to Peoria Pundit.