From the Tribune:

GOP congressional hopeful explains donation to Democrat
Concrete magnate Ozinga says he regrets aiding Blagojevich, denies any ethics violation
By Erika Slife and Rick Pearson | Chicago Tribune reporters
    September 30, 2008
Republican congressional candidate Martin Ozinga III said Monday that he donated $10,000 to Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich's campaign fund so that he and other concrete industry officials could have a private audience to express their concerns to him about state construction projects.
But Ozinga rejected criticism from rival Democratic state Sen. Debbie Halvorson of Crete that the December 2005 donation to Blagojevich represented the style of pay-to-play politics that has dominated discussion of ethics reform in the state.
Ozinga and Halvorson met Monday with the Tribune's editorial board as they seek to succeed retiring Republican U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller in the southwest suburban 11th Congressional District.
Ozinga, owner of a large Mokena-based concrete company, said he regretted contributing to Blagojevich because of the Democrat's style of leadership. He and one of his firms have given Blagojevich at least $23,000 since September 2002, state records show.
Campaign disclosure reports for the dates surrounding Ozinga's 2005 contribution to Blagojevich show at least seven other $10,000 contributions from cement businesses and a construction firm. The donations came more than a month after the Tribune disclosed a federal grand jury investigation into the Blagojevich administration's hiring practices. Blagojevich has not been charged with any wrongdoing.
"It's interesting to me that making contributions to Democrats is automatically considered pay to play," Ozinga said. "That, in my opinion, is outrageous, and I would challenge my opponent or anybody else to show that my company's benefited in any which way shape or form by making political contributions to anybody."
Ozinga said his company has no major state contracts. It does hold a longtime contract with Chicago.
Halvorson criticized Ozinga's donation because of its "perception" to voters. "People want to know what he got out of it," she said.
Ozinga's campaign has made inroads against Halvorson for her close ties to the governor and Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago). Halvorson has served as Jones' top lieutenant, and Senate Democrats have provided Blagojevich reliable support for his agenda.
But on Monday, Halvorson sought to distance herself from Blagojevich and Jones. She said she has encouraged those seeking to replace the retiring Jones as Senate president to keep a "fair and impartial" mind in case the Senate considers House-brought impeachment proceedings against Blagojevich.

$10,000
Amount Ozinga donated in December 2005 to Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich's campaign fund so that he and other concrete industry officials could have a private audience.