Progress Illinois

In a development that doesn't bode well for his 11th District run, five people have contradicted a claim that cement magnate and GOP congressional candidate Marty Ozinga made in a sworn affidavit stemming from a lawsuit over a land deal.

The suit in question was brought by Ozinga Bros. Inc. and alleges that 83-year-old family farmer Raymond Kunkel sold a 190-acre lot optioned by the company. Ozinga Bros. is now trying to force Kunkel to sell the land to them.

The farmer's attorney initially asked that Ozinga give a deposition about the deal, but Ozinga sought to keep himself out of court by claiming he "had no contact or communication of any kind" with the farmer. Kunkel and four other witnesses have since countered Ozinga's claim, saying he was personally involved in contract negotiations:

"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."

Kunkel had demanded the face-to-face meeting with the company head, Anderson said outside court. According to affidavits, the meeting took place in the home of Joseph and Georgiana Brent, who witnessed it; a company employee named Ron Smith; and Kenin Edwards, a Pekin man who was then collaborating with Ozinga in efforts to develop the gravel pit and port.

Now, because of the conflicting accounts, Judge John Barra has said Ozinga must give a deposition. Any discrepancies between his testimony and his sworn statements in the affidavit are sure to be scrutinized.

As Capitol Fax's Rich Miller points out, these types of court cases are not uncommon in the business world. But the fact that Ozinga's company is suing an 83-year-old farmer for his land doesn't exactly help his "man-of-the-people" congressional campaign. His alleged misrepresentations only make things worse for Ozinga, who already faces other allegations of shady business practices.