The secret society of mayors

When I say I'm studying urban governance, it's automatically politicized. Expected conversations are about power, and politicians, and there is a great deal of suspicion about sharing information that could be sensitive. Everything is steered carefully away from touchier aspects of governance, like the way resources are distributed, and the way decisions are made. When I say I'm studying public services, I get some kind of wild-card exemption from politics that is apparently granted to the 'technical sectors.' The health, and water, and education budgets are laid out on the table, and before anyone blinks, we are well into open conversations about the way resources are distributed, and the way decisions are made....Even in academic literature, in writing about the administration of public services it seems like mentioning power (and people) are optional. Am I missing something? Is there some special thing people who govern urban spaces do that has nothing to do with resources? I'll start keeping an eye out for a secret handshake.