State contractor silent on alleged Blagojevich ties

Michael Vondra, a state contractor and player in DuPage County politics, declined to comment Monday on reports that Gov. Rod Blagojevich leaned on him for campaign cash when he wanted help with a business venture.

Vondra, who owns a construction company with large government contracts, called the report "inaccurate" Monday, but he refused to discuss the allegations further.

Vondra is allegedly named by federal prosecutors as "Individual B" in the lengthy criminal complaint filed against Blagojevich last month, according to news reports. The complaint says Individual B was secretly recorded meeting with Blagojevich and a former top aide on Oct. 6 in the governor's Chicago campaign office to discuss one of Individual B's business ventures.

Allegedly, after Individual B left the meeting, Blagojevich was recorded as telling the ex-aide to seek $100,000 in campaign contributions from him before the year ended, prosecutors say.

The complaint says the former Blagojevich aide learned the governor himself later called Individual B to ask that he hold a fundraiser.

The push for campaign cash, the complaint says, was part of a broader plot by Blagojevich to rake in money before a law took effect on Jan. 1 that would bar donations from state contractors.

Blagojevich has denied any wrongdoing.

Vondra is close to DuPage County Chairman Bob Schillerstrom, who once appointed him to serve as chairman of the DuPage County Water Commission.