By Joe Mahr and Dan Patrella, includes “… One of his biggest campaign contributors, asphalt magnate Michael Vondra, had cornered the market on recycled roof shingles for use in road projects. … The firm defended its product and blamed cracking problems on other factors. ‘Use of (recycled asphalt shingles) has reduced Illinois’ carbon footprint, saved taxpayer dollars and saved millions of cubic yards of waste landfill space,’ the company said. …”