By Phil Kadner
As motorists pull into a gas station in Mokena, a millionaire approaches and asks if he can pump their gas.
Most people react with understandable suspicion.
Marty Ozinga smiles, offers a handshake and a quick explanation.
"I'm Marty Ozinga. I'm running for Congress in the 11th District. I'm not a politician. I'm a businessman. Maybe you've seen my red-and-white Ozinga concrete trucks on the road. That's my business. These gas prices are hurting everyone."
In cases where people initially appeared reluctant to let some strange fellow pump their gas, he begs to help them out, explaining why he's at the Gas City at 199th Street and LaGrange Road.
"We can talk while I pump your gas," Ozinga said. "I want to tell you what I want to do to keep gas prices down and hear your thoughts"
The Republican candidate is surrounded by a small crowd of people - including his campaign manager, two of his six sons, an Internet video crew hired by his campaign, a couple of newspaper reporters, a photographer and a "spy" sent by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to keep tabs on what Ozinga is saying.
There aren't many cars pulling into the gas station, where the sign reads $4.17 for a gallon of regular unleaded.
That gives me some time to talk to Ozinga, who is running against state Sen. Debbie Halvorson (D-Crete) in what's called a "Tier 1 campaign" - one that both political parties have determined is one of the most important congressional battles in the nation.
U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Guatemala) is the incumbent, but he's leaving office after numerous stories about potential conflicts of interest involving his real estate investments in Nicaragua and his marriage to Guatemalan Congresswoman Zury Rios Montt, the daughter of former dictator Efrain Rios Montt.
Tim Baldermann, the New Lenox mayor and Chicago Ridge police chief, won the 11th District Republican primary election in February.
But less than three weeks later, he announced he was pulling out of the race, saying he had underestimated the amount of time and fundraising it would take to win.
Ozinga was selected by Republican political leaders to replace Baldermann, in part because he has enough money to self-finance his campaign.
Ozinga wants to open up the Alaskan Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling "so we're not dependent on foreign oil." That's part of his long-term solution to skyrocketing gas prices, along with building more oil refineries in the United States.
Also, he's for less taxes and less government, he tells the motorists.
And he often mentions that he wants to change the way things are done in Springfield and Washington, a shot across the bow of Halvorson, who is the majority leader of the Illinois Senate.
To my surprise, there's not a single person who Ozinga stops who rants about the oil industry's influence in Washington, D.C.
Maybe that's because Ozinga comes off as such a nice, neighbor-next-door fellow.
His sons Marty IV, 31, the eldest of the Ozinga kids, and Tim, 21, the youngest, don't seem impressed with themselves, either.
"My sons are old enough to run the concrete business now," Ozinga told me. "So I have time to do this."
Why? Why would a guy who has millions of dollars, who could buy congressmen if he wanted to, run for an office where, in all likelihood, he will be able to do nothing of consequence if elected?
I tell Ozinga that people in his situation make the average working stiff suspicious of why so many rich guys want to get to D.C.
Ozinga said he has traveled the world helping poor people in destitute countries.
He says that from his observations, those countries are in a bad way because of bad governments and bad leadership.
"I think that can happen here if we're not careful," Ozinga said. "I love my country. I think I can change things for the good in Washington. I think a businessman who has not held any other government jobs can bring a new perspective to solving problems."
I wonder if Ozinga would allow me to make decisions about his concrete company, having no previous experience but knowing that I could bring a fresh perspective.
As Tom Swarfford gets out of his car at the gas pump, I ask him if he thinks politicians can do anything about the rising price of oil.
Swarfford starts complaining about the Bush administration's cozy ties to the oil industry and waxing nostalgic about how Bill Clinton balanced the federal budget.
Ozinga quickly steps in and explains that he's not a politician but a businessman.
Maybe a new approach can get things done in Washington, Ozinga says.
"Oh, yeah, Arnold Schwarzenegger was an actor, and he made a difference in California," Swarfford said.
Ozinga smiles. "I'm the guy for change. I'm not a politician."
Dawn Layman, of New Lenox, tells Ozinga the skyrocketing price of gas "is making people nervous."
"Some people are canceling summer vacations," Ozinga responds.
"It's not just summer. Christmas, too," Layman said.
Most of the motorists I spoke with said they don't follow politics, don't know who is running for Congress or what district they live in.
You think there may be any connection between that sort of ignorance and the rising price of gasoline?
