Republicans Select Ozinga as Their Candidate to Replace Weller

March 24, 2008, 3:05 p.m.

Chicago-area concrete contractor Martin Ozinga (R) is expected to be added next month to the November ballot to succeed Illinois GOP Rep. Jerry Weller, a Republican operative in the Land of Lincoln told Roll Call on Monday.

For weeks, Republican county chairmen in Weller’s central Illinois district have worked their way through a list of 20 potential replacements for New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann, who abruptly dropped out of the race to replace Weller a month ago.

As late as last week, Ozinga and local pizza chain owner Harry Bond were considered early favorites to replace Baldermann.

On Monday afternoon, the eight county-level GOP leaders in the district announced that Baldermann’s replacement would be named officially on April 30. The meeting was called by 11th district State Central Committeewoman Barbara Peterson.

— Matthew Murray

Energy and Commerce Committee: Barton Holds the Line for the GOP

March 15, 12 a.m.

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) knows he’s outnumbered. He knows the Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where he serves as ranking member, have the ability to “slam things through” when they want to. Read Full Article

Roll Call Video Channels

Photo Slideshows

Photo

Photos of the Day (March 16)

Photo

Photos of the Day (March 15)

Photo

Photos of the Day (March 11)

Photo

Photos of the Day (March 10)

Photo

Photos of the Day (March 9)

Photo

Photos of the Day (March 8)

Photo

Photos of the Day (March 4)