Pizza tycoon wedges into politics

By Peter Savodnik
The Hill

May 28, 2003

Republicans have traditionally relied on gun owners, pro-life activists and anti-tax crusaders, among others, to win elections.

Now they can count pizza kings in their corner, too.

Late last week, conservative activist Herman Cain, owner of the Godfather’s Pizza empire, launched his bid to win the GOP Senate nomination in Georgia, where Democratic Sen. Zell Miller is retiring.

Cain, who has spearheaded an effort to scrap the tax code in favor of a consumption-based system, is one of several pizza tycoons who have dabbled in politics.

Tom Monaghan, former head of Domino’s Pizza, drew nationwide attention with his donations to the pro-life group Operation Rescue.

John Schnatter, Papa John’s founder and chief executive officer, has given to Republicans in Kentucky, where the chain is based — $5,000 to the state GOP, $1,500 to Rep. Anne Northup and $250 to Sen. Jim Bunning in 2000; and $1,000 to Sen. Mitch McConnell in 2002, Federal Election Commission (FEC) records show.

Michael Miles, Pizza Hut’s chief operating officer, gave $1,000 to President Bush’s campaign in 1999, according to an FEC report.

And now there’s Cain, who overnight has turned the GOP primary in Georgia into a competitive race, pitting Rep. Johnny Isakson against the pizza tycoon turned politician. Rep. Mac Collins said May 15 that he also would seek the GOP Senate nomination.

"He’s just sort of a perfect marriage of a black conservative from the South - pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, Reagan Republican, who understands the business world," Alex St. James, chairman of the African-American Republican Leadership Council, said of Cain.

The group is helping Cain get his campaign off the ground, St. James said.

Isakson’s campaign manager, Chris Carr, said he didn’t know a lot about Cain other than that he’s been the CEO of Godfather’s Pizza.

"Our candidate is a conservative candidate and is right in line with what Georgia voters are looking for," Carr said. "Johnny has a 25-year record of being a fiscal conservative."

Carr added that the congressman likes pizza but that he’s not sure which toppings he prefers.

Katherine Kim of the National Restaurant Association declined to comment on the pizza-politics connection.

"I’m not sure that this is something we have any information on or could make any correlation," she said.

A 2002 FranchiseHelp survey reported that 94 percent of Americans eat pizza and that pizza is the fourth most popular food in the country, behind cheese, chocolate and ice cream. The report also said that 3 billion pizzas are sold yearly.