A familiar face has returned to the Kingfisher Board of Education.

After more than an hour in executive session Monday, board members voted to appoint Mike Copeland to fill an unexpired term for Seat #1 on the board.

The vote was 3-0 with Dana Golbek making the motion, Carly Franks seconding it and Charles Walker voting with them.

Brad Wittrock abstained from the vote during the special meeting.

The board members as well as incoming board member Bill Reitz interviewed Copeland and local attorney Jon Benham during the executive session.

They were seeking a replacement for Terry Payne, who resigned recently after moving to Oklahoma City.

Copeland will serve for one year to fill the unexpired term.

It’s a seat with which he’s familiar.

Copeland previously served on the board for 10 years and ran for a third term in 2021 when he was defeated by Payne.

“I’m very happy,” said Copeland, a Kingfisher High School graduate who said he felt compelled to re-join the board as a way to give back to his alma mater.

The fact he served before, he said, likely aided him in being picked Monday.

“With my experience of already having been on the board, I think it felt like a more seamless transition,” he said.

Though not chosen, Benham was gracious in his reaction to the board’s vote.

“Thank you guys for visiting with me today,” he said. “I appreciate your time and appreciate all the work you guys do.”