Tom Corfman is a senior advisor with Ragan Consulting Group, which helps corporations set up govt thought management applications.

Chief executives of world corporations don’t often become involved in native politics, however CEO Chris Kempczinski of Chicago-based McDonald’s Corp. has proven there’s an exception: When a mayor’s approval score is about 25%.

“Whereas it could wound our civic pleasure to listen to it, there’s a common sense on the market that our metropolis is in disaster,” he stated on Sept. 14, 2022, in a speech earlier than The Financial Membership of Chicago, an unique group of enterprise leaders.

Kempczinski by no means talked about Mayor Lori Lightfoot by title as he voiced extensively felt considerations about crime, bemoaned Metropolis Corridor’s frayed relationship with the enterprise neighborhood and griped about taxes. He didn’t must.

“His feedback possible will function a blueprint for any pro-business mayoral candidate who has but to emerge,” wrote the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board in reward of the speech.

5 months later, Lightfoot was on her manner out, ending third in a crowded subject of 9 candidates.

In response to an inventory of eight questions, a McDonald’s spokesperson declined remark, saying by electronic mail, “We now have nothing extra to share right now.”

In some methods, Kempczinski’s speech was the kickoff of the Chicago mayoral election, possible strengthening opposition to the incumbent that was already brewing among the many metropolis’s company elite. It additionally affords an opportunity to evaluate three factors that CEOs ought to contemplate earlier than leaping into native politics. However first, some background about politics within the Windy Metropolis, the place Ragan Consulting Group is predicated.

Practically 4 years in the past, Lightfoot turned the third Black, second girl and first brazenly homosexual individual to change into town’s mayor. A former federal prosecutor and massive legislation agency associate, she rode to an upset win in 2019 over outrage about political corruption. (Think about that in Chicago!).

Whereas worries about crime performed a key position in Lightfoot’s defeat within the Feb. 28 non-partisan election, she was additionally damage by perceptions that she didn’t ship on guarantees to reform authorities, enhance transparency and alter police techniques. Layered on high of all that was her combative persona. Liberal voters, the core of her help in 2019, deserted her on this election.

Two candidates are combating to succeed Lightfoot in what’s going to possible be a ferocious runoff election on April 4. Paul Vallas, a former CEO of the Chicago Public Faculties below Mayor Richard M. Daley who’s receiving sturdy help from the enterprise sector, garnered almost 34% of the votes. Brandon Johnson, a county commissioner who’s backed by town’s highly effective lecturers union, the place he’s an organizer, collected almost 22%. In a metropolis the place race performs a task in politics, Vallas is white and Johnson is Black.

The 2 candidates provide sharply totally different visions of methods to run the nation’s third largest metropolis, particularly on crime. Vallas is campaigning on a law-and-order message, whereas Johnson guarantees to enhance public security by spending extra on social providers, psychological well being care, schooling and housing.

McDonald’s, with 2022 income of $23.22 billion, has a protracted historical past within the Chicago space, from its first restaurant in a suburb in 1955 to its headquarters transfer from the suburbs to town in 2018. Kempczinski started his remarks by describing the financial impression if his firm left.

“Two billion {dollars} a 12 months is the financial contribution of getting McDonald’s headquarters right here,” he stated, repeating the quantity.

“What if McDonald’s wasn’t right here? It will be $2 billion that left town in a single day,” he stated, snapping his fingers.

The speech earned nationwide media protection. When reporters seized on Kempczinski’s implied menace to relocate the corporate’s headquarters, McDonald’s PR staff clarified that the corporate didn’t intend to maneuver. One week later, the corporate purchased a full-page print advert within the Tribune, promising its continued dedication to town, and posted it to its web site.

Mockingly, Kempczinski’s remarks about Chicago overshadowed  his personal announcement that the corporate was transferring an innovation heart with 100 staff from a suburb to its metropolis headquarters.

At a time when customers proceed to need chief executives to be extra engaged in social points, the speech is a outstanding instance. It additionally raises not less than three key questions that CEOs ought to contemplate earlier than plunging into native politics.

1. Are you able to win? “Don’t Make No Waves, Don’t Again No Losers,” was the title of a landmark 1975 guide about Chicago politics. The precept nonetheless applies and never simply to Chicago. Even with all of Lightfoot’s disadvantages, her defeat was hardly a positive factor when Kempczinski spoke out. 5 months between his speech and the election is a very long time in politics.

This doesn’t imply CEOs shouldn’t become involved in political points they aren’t sure to have an effect on. However the probability of a positive final result is an element to weigh. Politics is totally different than social points, the place taking a stand can resonate with staff and clients, particularly when coupled with a plan to take motion.

2. Who’s the viewers? The members of the Financial Membership enthusiastically obtained Kempczinski’s remarks.

In an indication of approval by many enterprise executives, The Wall Road Journal Editorial Board thundered, “When residents not really feel secure at a significant restaurant chain and a CEO points a public plea, social order is breaking down.”

However earlier than moving into the fray, CEOs should be aware of how their stance will probably be obtained by different audiences. Simply ask Disney, which didn’t anticipate the barrage unleased by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla).

In Chicago, a white, male CEO criticizing a Black, feminine elected official common amongst many African Individuals can produce unintended penalties. In 2021, Kempczinski drew protests at McDonald’s headquarters after the publication of a textual content message to Lightfoot by which he blamed the dad and mom for the taking pictures deaths of a Black little one and a Latino teenage as a result of they “failed” their youngsters. He apologized and met with staff.

The corporate additionally has confronted harsh criticism over alleged discrimination towards Black franchisees.

But Kempczinski and McDonald’s suffered no backlash from his remarks.

3. Do you have got your details straight? In these circumstances, the CEO’s numbers should be bombproof.

Lightfoot fired again, after all, saying, “What would have been useful is for the McDonald’s CEO to teach himself earlier than he spoke.”

Town’s crime statistics, whereas excessive, are enhancing, the administration stated. And a document variety of corporations are transferring to town or considerably increasing, contradicting Kempczinski’s declare that fewer corporations are headquartered right here. Taxes have modified little since McDonald’s moved to town almost 5 years in the past.

Furthermore, experiences by Crain’s Chicago Enterprise evaluating Chicago with different cities on crime and enterprise local weather provide a extra reasonable image of town.

But Kempczinski’s message was so sturdy that any questions in regards to the accuracy of his claims obtained scant consideration.

CEOs should choose their points properly. Kempczinski’s speech was not with out danger, however possible had its supposed impact. With the run-off lower than a month away, will the McDonald’s chief govt provide one other Chicago evaluation?

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