While the rest of the country swoons for Donald Trump, we in Kenosha County keep our priorities in order.

That means pizza.

That’s right: Pizza.

We take pizza seriously in Kenosha.

People who never vote, have no opinion on the Kennedy Drive resurfacing plan and let their spouses name all the family’s pets will not hesitate to tell you — at length — why their favorite pizza place is the best pizza place.

For these folks, a conversation with the word “supreme” in it refers to favorite toppings, not the recent High Court vacancy.

It was no surprise that the winning testimonial in Mary Bergin’s Feb. 21 “Roads Traveled” column — which asked people to make a case for the best pizza in Wisconsin in 50 words or less — was won by Ann Schnuck of Pleasant Prairie.

(Schnuck won for her entry about Wells Brothers pizza in Racine, but we’ll let it slide because their incredibly thin crust is so delicious.)

Among the Wisconsin pizza places Bergin highlights in her statewide travel column is our own Luigi’s, a mainstay on south 39th Avenue.

“Luigi’s Pizza in Kenosha is crafted with a crispy thin crust, slathered with a thick semi-sweet tomato sauce, a generous layer of Wisconsin mozzarella cheese and topped with pepperoni and sausage,” Steven Murdock of Kenosha wrote in his entry. “It’s then baked in an oven until the cheese bubbles. Served piping hot, this pizza is the best.”

You can sample Luigi’s pizza — plus others from local establishments Baker Street, the Brat Stop, Dolce Vita, Jimano’s, Marco’s, Papa John’s, Papa Murphy’s, the Parkway Chateau, Rosati’s, Rivals, Tenutas and Toppers — at the Great Kenosha Pizza Bake-Off on Sunday.

The Kenosha Area Noon Optimist Club is again hosting this popular event, which moves west to the Brat Stop’s Parkway Chateau. While you’re sampling the various pizzas — from traditional pepperoni pies to “exotic” offerings topped with actual vegetables — you can vote for your favorites in the People’s Choice Award contest.

I’ll be there for the third time as one of the “celebrity judges” … with the word “celebrity” being used very loosely in my case.

No doubt, I was asked to participate based on someone seeing me and thinking, “She looks like someone who eats a lot of pizza.” So true, so true.
Secret ballot

How serious is this judging gig? During the event, the judges are locked away in secret chambers, where they sample about a dozen pizzas. The pizzas brought in for judging are “specialty” pies, loaded with what the vendors consider their best stuff.

My fellow judges Sunday are WLIP’s Pete Serzant — who I listen to weekday evenings on the “Lip Off” call-in show — Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth, Pleasant Prairie Police Chief David Smetana and state Rep. Samantha Kerkman.

I’m assuming we have Beth and Smetana in the judges’ room to keep order, and Kerkman is used to voting, so everything should be fine.

Still, being a pizza judge — in Kenosha — is risky business.

One false move, and you could alienate the deep-dish crowd forever.

And don’t get me started on sausage vs. pepperoni. That’s a battle that will rage for the ages.
Impressing the judges

While I can’t divulge any pizza judge secrets — it’s a sacred bond that can never be broken — I can offer some tips on how to get high scores:

— Go all in — with cheese: Forget all that crazy nutritional talk (at least for a few hours) about giving up all dairy products. There’s never been a pizza created that couldn’t be improved by adding an extra dose of gooey, stringy cheese.

— We mean it: Cheese, cheese and more cheese! Cheese for everyone!

— Keep it firm: A limp, soggy crust that can’t hold its toppings is a real turn-off. This also applies to most aspects of life. “Limp and soggy” are never good.

— When in doubt, add bacon: Again, this also applies to pretty much any life situation.

— Keep it classic: Toppings that include the standards — sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms — generally score well.

— But … don’t be afraid to experiment: Though some pizza judges — usually the male ones! — complain if a pizza dares to be different, more refined judges (the women) appreciate the out-of-the-ordinary slices with such toppings as yellow bell peppers, goat cheese, fresh basil and sour cream.

— Try to cover all the bases: There was one pizza we sampled that we dubbed “The Carnivore’s Dream,” loaded with meats from ground beef to ham to chicken — and everything in between. There was also a smattering of spinach, to throw a bone to the “healthy” eater.

— Get saucy: Sauces on the “specialty” slices have included an Alfredo sauce, a barbecue sauce and even refried beans as a “sauce.”

— Say cheese: Did we mention we like cheese?
Missing in action

The pizza judges chambers will be missing a key member Sunday evening — honorary Head Judge Bill Lawrence, host of WLIP’s morning show. He’s on the injured reserved list and will hopefully will be back in 2017. We’ll miss you, Bill, but I promise to do my best to be a fair and balanced pizza judge. Now, pass the extra napkins.
If you go

— What: Kenosha Area Noon Optimist Club’s annual Great Kenosha Pizza Bake-Off

— When: 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday

— Where: Parkway Chateau, located at the north end of the Brat Stop on Highway 50 just west of I-94. Use entrance C. (Note: This is a new location for the Pizza Bake-Off.)

— The food: Visitors can sample about 40 pizzas served from local pizza establishments. Also, beverages and desserts will be available for purchase.

— Other attractions: There will be silent auction items, entertainment by DJ Bill Lynch and appearances by Miss Kenosha and local mascots.

— Cost: $10 in advance ($12 at the door) for adults and $5 in advance ($6 at the door) for children 10 and younger. Tickets are available in advance (cash or check only) at the Boys and Girls Club of Kenosha, 1330 52nd St.

— More information: Email KenoshaPizzaBakeOff@hotmail.com.

— Proceeds: Go to support Optimist Club youth programs in the community.

— Have a comment? Email Liz at esnyder@kenoshanews.com or call her at 262-656-6271.