Pizza Ranch is new territory for Bush campaign adviser

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Iowa caucus campaign is underway and that means you can find Republican presidential hopefuls practicing pepperoni politics at Pizza Ranch restaurants around the state.

After speaking to about 1,000 Iowans at the Iowa Ag Summit Saturday, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee dashed off to a Pizza Ranch in Altoona to meet with supporters.

At the same time, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush was in Cedar Rapids meeting with about 150 people.

There's nothing curious in Republicans meeting at Pizza Ranches. In fact, during the 2012 campaign, the Sioux City Journal reported that all but one GOP hopeful who actively campaigned in Iowa made at least one appearance at one of the 70-plus Pizza Ranches in Iowa. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum alone made 36 such stops.

The lone exception was Mitt Romney. It was declared off limits for Romney's campaign by Iowa GOP political consultant Dave Kochel because of the former owner's legal troubles.

Lawrence Vander Esch from Sioux County spent time in prison on charges that he sexually abused male employees.

'There is not a lot of room for mistakes,” Kochel said about avoiding Pizza Ranch.

So it struck some Republicans as curious that Kochel, who is now Bush's senior strategist, booked the Pizza Ranch.

'A lot of time has passed,” Kochel said Saturday evening when asked about the change of tastes.

In addition, the charges against Vander Esch, who was released from prison in 2006, have been vacated by a district court judge citing an Iowa Supreme Court ruling.

Vander Esch, Kochel pointed out, is no longer with the chain of 180 restaurants across the Midwest.

'These are good owners, franchisees,” he said.

Brandon Pratt, owner of the Cedar Rapids Pizza Ranch store, lived up to that assessment. When the Bush crowd exceeded the occupancy limit of the Bunkhouse room, he removed the tables to increase occupancy by more than half.

Perhaps Bush, who told the Ag Summit audience he would be preparing Iowa beef and guacamole for Sunday brunch, will acquire a taste for pizza, chicken and mashed potato buffets.