11th Congressional Candidate Debate

I discovered that the Kankakee County Farm Bureau has posted the following videos from their forum/debate with candidates in the 11th Congressional District. This portion seems to be asking the candidates' positions on foreign trade agreements. They are shown here in the order originally posted.

First, Green Party candidate Jason Wallace:



Next, Democratic Party candidate Debbie Halvorson:



Last, Republican Party candidate Marty Ozinga:

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Jason Wallace Interview on WJBC

Jason Wallace, the Green Party candidate in the 11th Congressional District of Illinois, is interviewed by Steve Fast in the above broadcast, which originally aired on WJBC on August 5, 2008.

Wallace is running against Democrat Debbie Halvorson and Republican Marty Ozinga, both whom are also hoping to replace outgoing Republican Congressman Jerry Weller.

Let's have some feedback on how Wallace did. For example, what did you think of his presentation versus the content of his answers to the questions?

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Rezko International Airport

Quick flights out of country I guess...

Ozinga asks in a Press Release,

In the wake of Bryant's revelations, Debbie Halvorson owes her constituents honest answers to the following questions:

Ø Did Halvorson ever meet with Rezko or Rezko's associates about the Third Airport?

Ø If so, did Halvorson sponsor Senate Bill 2063 at Tony Rezko's request? Was anything offered by Rezko in exchange?

Ø If not, still: why did Halvorson sponsor a bill that would have created ample opportunity for the same kind of cash-for-appointments schemes for which Tony Rezko was just convicted?

Also, Rezko International Airport, and Phil Kadner quoting Jackson,

"Rezko said that in order to get the governor's support for the things I wanted, the governor had to be given key appointments on the ALNAC board," Jackson said.

"That is the same kind of thing they did with the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board and the teachers pension system.

"That's how Rezko used his influence, by appointing people to these boards.

"I wasn't going to let that happen to ALNAC."

and,

"People wonder why I have been quiet for so long about the airport," Jackson said. "That's why I couldn't say anything. It was all about pay-for-play politics, and there was nothing I could say or do to move things along.

"I've been criticized by people who say I should compromise to make the airport happen, and this is why I haven't compromised.

"This is who I have to work with in this state.

"I can't compromise because all of the people I am dealing with have different agendas than I do.

"I'm a hero here. I refuse to compromise to pay-for-play politics."

Jackson ought to take a look at Pamela Davis to see what happens to heros in Illinois.

xp Bill Baar's West Side

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‘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.

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