washington republican presidential candidate marco rubio pick devon energy corp co-founder larry nichols help oversee campaign stance energy issue rubio spokesman jahan wilcox say monday rubio u.s. senator florida make choice campaign efforts move toward next round primary vote state include nevada tuesday oklahoma texas march super tuesday nichols step devon ceo 2012 30 years stay executive chairman set fully retire year oklahoma-based oil producer like powerful voice oil gas industry nichols last year echo call lift 40-year-old federal ban crude oil export nichols set host feb. 26 fundraiser rubio oklahoma key u.s. energy state home significant horizontal drill hydraulic fracture fracking december donate 50,000 super pac support rubio accord bloomberg news nichols 73 active several industry group include america natural gas alliance national association manufacturers business industry political action committee american petroleum institute accord devon website also previously lead american exploration production council work energy sector nichols work special assistant u.s. department justice company website say rubio battle republican nominee nov. presidential election alongside front-runner real estate tycoon donald trump fellow u.s. senator ted cruz texas key oil state ohio governor john kasich retire neurosurgeon ben carson also seek republican nomination report emily stephenson article fund part sap independently create reuters editorial staff sap editorial involvement creation production rubio pick outgo devon executive oversee energy policy issue