Quote Originally Posted by Doug Loudenback View Post
Nichols is something of an enigma.

On the one hand, we love what he has done for our city with Devon as well as the company's contributions along the river and otherwise, and continues to do. We like, if not adore, all of that he has done and will likely do.

On the other, most of us (at least, I'd suppose) were less than impressed with his anonymous and relentless campaigning in the city council elections in 2011 (masked under the name of the Committee for Oklahoma City Momentum).

In the earlier days, his public appearance appeared to be humble, just a nice guy, maybe even "one of the people." But closer to today, he seems to have embraced more of a swagger which connotes, "I am something special ... listen to me and, if you find it convenient, do as I suggest." Always with politeness but an unmistakeable directive.

Now, to be sure, there is nothing new about power brokers being active in Oklahoma City's history. Those guys date from immediately after the days of the Land Run (e.g., Henry Overholser, C.J. Jones) and have continued beyond that time.

The thing is, whether it be because of the internet or whatever, the public has more of an input into municipal decisions which in earlier times were perhaps decided by a cloistered if not secretive few. Public input in contemporary times may be an input that today's power brokers aren't particularly friendly to, or, worse, even aware of or care about ... even less, about such contemporary input, that they have developed the acumen in dealing with and responding to.

In other words, does a historical power broker (e.g., the Chamber, Nichols, etc.) even have a sense that the political world is different than it was 50 years ago? My sense is that they do not perceive that times have changed. Whether they are right or wrong in that regard is the question.

My 2 cents.
Great points. I think they're very aware of it but it pisses them off to the extreme. Democracy is a messy enterprise. "Power brokers," as you anoint them, like control, and a forum for public input threatens this control to say the least. They still have outsize influence, but they cannot control the messaging as much as they would like. I'm amazed the Internet hasn't been shut down yet.

As for Nichols, he did cultivate a 'humble' persona. I recall hearing all of these OKC insiders braying about the beat up car he allegedly drove and the coach air tickets he allegedly purchased. He may have been that guy. I have no idea. And I really don't care if he drives a luxury car and flies first class; that's his prerogative. But a billionaire will never be "one of the people."