Trump’s ‘Convenience Cabinet’
By Greg Lindenberg on Dec. 14, 2016WASHINGTON -- Convenience-store retailers favored Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election and believed that a Trump victory would improve the economy, according to a CSP survey in August. Now President-elect Trump has announced his nominees for several cabinet positions that could affect c-store, foodservice and fuel-retailing businesses.
All must be confirmed by the Senate.
A few have roots in the industries they could influence or regulate. What do the backgrounds of these nominees signal about how they would run their respective agencies?
Click through to see the nominees …
Department of State
President-elect Trump said he intends to nominate businessman and political outsider Rex Tillerson, chairman and CEO of Irving, Texas-based Exxon Mobil Corp., to serve as secretary of the U.S. Department of State.
While the State Department does not directly influence c-stores, supporters of the nomination see Tillerson’s experience and international expertise in the petroleum industry to be a one of his strengths. Critics, however, see his ties to foreign leaders, especially Russian President Vladimir Putin, as one of his weaknesses.
Tillerson began his career at Exxon Co. USA in 1975 as a production engineer. In 1999, he became executive vice president of Exxon Mobil Development Co. He was named senior vice president of ExxonMobil in 2001, elected president of the corporation and member of the board of directors in 2004 and became chairman and CEO in 2006.
ExxonMobil is an integrated refiner and marketer of petroleum products supplying more than 10,000 Exxon- and Mobil-branded gas stations nationwide.
“Rex Tillerson’s career is the embodiment of the American dream. Through hard work, dedication and smart deal making, Rex rose through the ranks to become CEO of ExxonMobil, one of the world’s largest and most respected companies,” said Trump. “His tenacity, broad experience and deep understanding of geopolitics make him an excellent choice for secretary of state. He will promote regional stability and focus on the core national security interests of the United States. Rex knows how to manage a global enterprise, which is crucial to running a successful State Department, and his relationships with leaders all over the world are second to none. I can think of no one more prepared, and no one more dedicated, to serve as secretary of state at this critical time in our history.”
Department of Energy
Trump intends to nominate former Texas Gov. Rick Perry to serve as secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy.
In 2011, Republican presidential primary candidate Perry said he would eliminate the Department of Commerce, the Department of Education and a third department, the name of which he could not remember. It was the Energy Department. The memory gaffe may have cost him the party’s nomination.
Critics of the choice say Perry's desire to eliminate the department indicates he doesn’t appreciate the scope of what the Energy Department does—such as dealing with nuclear weapons. They also call him a climate-change denier.
"As the governor of Texas, Rick Perry created a business climate that produced millions of new jobs and lower energy prices in his state, and he will bring that same approach to our entire country as secretary of energy," Trump said. “My administration is going to make sure we take advantage of our huge natural resource deposits to make America energy independent and create vast new wealth for our nation, and Rick Perry is going to do an amazing job as the leader of that process.”
"As the former governor of the nation's largest energy producing state, I know American energy is critical to our economy and our security,” Perry said. “I look forward to engaging in a conversation about the development, stewardship and regulation of our energy resources, safeguarding our nuclear arsenal, and promoting an American energy policy that creates jobs and puts America first."
Perry sits on the board of Energy Transfer Partners LP, Dallas, the parent company of Sunoco LP, which operates approximately 1,300 retail fuel sites and convenience stores. (ETP is being acquired by Sunoco Logistics Partners LP, Newton Square, Pa.)
Before serving as governor from 2000 to 2015, he served as commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture.
Perry was also briefly a contestant on ABC’s "Dancing With the Stars."
Environmental Protection Agency
The president-elect has announced that he will nominate Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to serve as the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
As Oklahoma’s attorney general, Pruitt said he believes that states should have the sovereignty to make many regulatory decisions for their own markets.
Critics call him a climate-change denier and believe he will roll back many of President Obama’s environmental regulation efforts and dismantle the agency.
“For too long, the [EPA] has spent taxpayer dollars on an out-of-control anti-energy agenda that has destroyed millions of jobs, while also undermining our incredible farmers and many other businesses and industries at every turn. As my EPA administrator, Scott Pruitt … will reverse this trend and restore the EPA’s essential mission of keeping our air and our water clean and safe,” said Trump. “My administration strongly believes in environmental protection, and Scott Pruitt will be a powerful advocate for that mission while promoting jobs, safety and opportunity.”
“Pruitt will ensure that we conserve our natural habitats, reserves and resources, while unleashing an energy revolution that will bring vast new wealth to our country. Mr. Pruitt agrees with President-elect Trump that we must rescind all job-destroying executive actions and eliminate all barriers to responsible energy production. This will create at least a half million jobs each year and produce $30 billion in higher wages,” the announcement said.
“The American people are tired of seeing billions of dollars drained from our economy due to unnecessary EPA regulations, and I intend to run this agency in a way that fosters both responsible protection of the environment and freedom for American businesses,” said Pruitt.
Department of Labor
Trump has announced his intent to nominate Andy Puzder, CEO of CKE Restaurants Inc., as secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor.
Carpinteria, Calif.-based CKE is the parent company of the Carl's Jr., Hardee's, Green Burrito and Red Burrito quick-service restaurant (QSR) brands.
“Andy Puzder has created and boosted the careers of thousands of Americans, and his extensive record fighting for workers makes him the ideal candidate to lead the Department of Labor,” said the president-elect. “Andy will fight to make American workers safer and more prosperous by enforcing fair occupational safety standards and ensuring workers receive the benefits they deserve, and he will save small businesses from the crushing burdens of unnecessary regulations that are stunting job growth and suppressing wages.”
Detractors say Puzder is a critic of raising the minimum wage.
- Click here for restaurant-industry reaction to Puzder’s appointment, and click here for details on what he has said about labor issues of importance to the restaurant and retail industries.
Son of a car salesman from Cleveland, Puzder earned his way through school while supporting his family by working in construction, landscaping and painting houses. He earned a law degree from Washington University, and he was a trial lawyer before entering private practice.
In 1997, Puzder was named executive vice president and general counsel for CKE Restaurants, and in 2000, he became president and CEO. The company owns or franchises more than 3,750 restaurants in the United States and around the world, generates $1.4 billion in annual revenue and, with its franchises, employs more than 75,000 people in the United States.
In 2010, Puzder co-wrote the book “Job Creation: How It Really Works and Why Government Doesn’t Understand It.”
Department of Transportation
In one of his least controversial choices, Trump said he will nominate Elaine Chao to serve as secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The DOT has significant input into issues such as gasoline taxes used to fund road infrastructure improvements and vehicle mileage standands.
Chao served as deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Transportation under former President George H.W. Bush and secretary of the Department of Labor under former President George W. Bush.
“Secretary Chao’s extensive record of strong leadership and her expertise are invaluable assets in our mission to rebuild our infrastructure in a fiscally responsible manner,” said the president-elect. “She has an amazing life story and has helped countless Americans in her public-service career.”
An immigrant who arrived in America from Taiwan at the age of 8 speaking no English, Chao received her U.S. citizenship when she was 19 years old. She has had a distinguished career in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Chao was president and CEO of United Way of America and director of the Peace Corps.
Small Business Administration
Trump has announced his intention to nominate Linda McMahon to serve as the administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
McMahon is a co-founder and former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Stamford, Conn.
She is the co-founder and CEO of Women’s Leadership Live LLC, which uses live events and ongoing mentorships to educate and inspire women to launch and expand their own businesses, advance their careers toward executive roles and pursue opportunities for leadership in public service.
“Linda has a tremendous background and is widely recognized as one of the country’s top female executives advising businesses around the globe,” Trump said. “She helped grow WWE from a modest 13-person operation to a publicly traded global enterprise with more than 800 employees in offices worldwide. Linda is going to be a phenomenal leader and champion for small businesses and unleash America’s entrepreneurial spirit all across the country.”
“Our small businesses are the largest source of job creation in our country,” said McMahon. “I am honored to join the incredibly impressive economic team that President-elect Trump has assembled to ensure that we promote our country’s small businesses and help them grow and thrive.”
Vice President
Trump’s choice of former Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his vice president also has a c-store industry connection.
Pence’s father, Edward, was vice president, and his brother, Gregory, was CEO of Columbus, Ind.-based Kiel Bros. Oil, which operated a chain of more than 200 gas stations, convenience stores and cigarettes stores under the name Tobacco Road. The company filed for bankruptcy and sold off its stores in 2004.