BLOOMINGTON - In his bid to represent the 11th Congressional District, businessman Marty Ozinga III spoke to McLean County Republicans on Monday looking for their help.

Ozinga, 58, became the Republican nominee for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller, R-Morris, after New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann dropped out of the race.

"I am going to need huge help, everything from grass roots support to money," Ozinga told the crowd of about 100 local party supporters at the Doubletree Hotel and Conference Center in Bloomington.

Ozinga is president of Ozinga Bros., a material supply company headquartered in Mokena.

So far Ozinga's campaign has raised about $500,000 he said. He is predicting he will need $3 million to fund an effective campaign against the Democratic nominee for the seat, state Sen. Debbie Halvorson of Crete, and Green Party candidate Jason Wallace of Normal.

Ozinga kept his remarks about Halvorson to a minimum saying he intended to point out their differences and her track record in Springfield, but he added he will "conduct a polite campaign."

"This campaign is going to be about hard work," he said.

The 11th District runs from the southern Chicago suburbs to Bloomington-Normal.

Monday was Ozinga's first appearance in the county.

McLean County Republican Party Chairman John Parrott Jr. said the local party will be hosting a fund-raiser for Ozinga this summer but the details have not been finalized.

Ozinga entered the race less than three weeks ago when the state party named him to replace Baldermann on the ballot. Baldermann won the three-way primary race for the seat in February but withdrew shortly after, citing family reasons.

The district is one of three in the state the Republican Party is trying to hold onto in the Nov. 4 general election. The other two are the 14th, in the western Chicago suburbs, and the 18th, which includes Peoria.