“Nice To Meet You, Mr. Mayor”
I remember when I was a little kid going to lots of places with my dad that had lots of people. I didn’t know it then but I do now, he was very involved with politics. He wasn’t a politician, per se, but he was an activist for the United Farm Workers Union of America, the executive director of the Montgomery County Community Action Agency in Dayton, Ohio, and an ordained minister. Because of all that, lots of politicians liked getting their picture with him. And this was way before cell phones.
At one event, in the basement of a church, I was running around with all the other kids when my dad called me over to meet someone. When I got to my dad, he introduced me to a tall man. Very tall, I remember looking waaaaaay up at him. He was as tall as a ladder. He bent all the way down to my eye level, shook my hand firmly, and politely said, “Hello there, young man.” I realized years later it was Reverend Jesse Jackson.
I thought it was pretty cool then, even before I knew who he was. So, when I have the opportunity to introduce my kids to someone like that, I do my best to make it happen. Even if they don’t really understand the importance of the person they are meeting, hopefully they will someday. So when I was granted the chance to interview Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols, I immediately hoped it was a day when I had visitation with my daughter, Angel. Here we are after my Tulsa Rocks interview with my Tulsa Rocks co-host, Jill Munroe:
Below is the transcript of the Mayor talking about being a dad while running for mayor.
Mayor Nichols on Being a Dad While Running for Mayor
“What’s crazy is, my son was in high school when I was running for mayor. Kids these days are as busy as we are. His life was busy, too.
“I always told myself I wasn’t going to make him be a part of my world. I was going to be in his world. So I try not to miss anything. You don’t miss games. You don’t miss birthdays. You don’t miss those kinds of things.
“Now that he’s 18, you kind of just hope he still wants to hang out with you. I jump at the opportunity anytime he wants to do anything.
“I think that’s the thing when you’re a parent and you’ve got a lot going on—which every parent does. Find ways to be involved in what they’re doing. I’ll never forget seeing my mom or my grandfather in the stands when I was doing something. There’s nothing like it. Or having family at a school play. You never forget those things.
“That was a big thing for me when I was running for mayor, making sure I was there for those moments.
“Now I kind of have to beg him to go to dinner with me. Have you ever had to beg somebody to let you buy them a steak? I’m like, ‘Hey man, you want to go have a steak?’ He’s like, ‘I think I’m going to Chipotle.’ I’m like, ‘What are you talking about?’
“He’s going to play baseball in junior college, so I’m really proud of him and really excited for him.”
Lynn: “Mr. Mayor, thank you for helping make Tulsa Rock.”
Mayor Nichols: “Thank you. Yeah, thank you so much.”
Also below is the video interview we did to promote our benefit concert on Sunday. The concert is called: Tulsa Rocks Concert #6. Money raised will go to the Red Dirt Relief Fund. It is at The Boman on 31st & Sheridan. We have three Tulsa bands, and you have a chance to win VIP Rocklahoma tickets, which are SOLD OUT!
