Martin Ozinga, III, 58, has been officially named the candidate who can best help the GOP hold onto the 11th district congressional seat long held by U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller, R-Morris.

Republicans were caught off guard when Weller announced last September that he would not seek an eighth term in Congress.

They were caught off guard again when after the Feb. 5 primary, the presumptive nominee Tim Baldermann quit the race citing time constraints and family concerns.

A long list of potential candidates was whittled down and as planned, the Republican leadership in the eight counties within the 11th Congressional District finally named the Republican nominee for Congress. And, as was widely believed, that nominee is Ozinga.

Ozinga, is the president of Ozinga Bros. Inc., headquartered in Orland Park. His company is a family-owned business that for 75 years has provided ready mix concrete and bulk transportation services to the greater Chicagoland, Northern Illinois, and Northwest Indiana.

In November, Ozinga will face Democrat Debbie Halvorson, 50, from Crete and Jason Wallace, 25, of Normal who represents the Green Party.