Ooooh, idk how much backstory plotting you've hammered out, but I wonder if setting up the lumberyard's electrical infrastructure was how Gideon and John initially got to know each other, Roswell's right/lefthand men, and became trusted/valued enough in the community to be elected aldermen? Gideon's technical knowledge + John's willingness to rope himself to a big pole and climb on up... It makes sense to me! I think it also sets a strong base of mutual respect, so that when they do clash it's never personal, but like, "This person that I work well with to keep this community safe and functional thinks in ways that don't make sense to me."

Although going to poker night... John will never understand this. He closes his eyes to the fact of Gideon's presence there. He pretends not to see it.