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LAWTON — The Comanche County Board of Commissioners started the new year Tuesday by electing its chairman and vice chairman.
The commission chose senior commissioner Johnny Owens as the chairman and newcomer Josh Powers as the vice chairman for 2023. Owens and Powers will also serve as the chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the Comanche County Facilities Authority.
Powers, who represents District 3, is one of two new faces on the commission this year. The other newcomer is Commissioner John O’Brien, who represents District 1.
Powers and O’Brien both won their seats in the summer of 2022. Powers beat then-Chairman Alvin Cargill in the GOP primary election in June, and O’Brien unseated then-District 1 Commissioner Gail Turner in the August GOP runoff vote.
Powers and O’Brien were both sworn into office Dec. 30, and their first regular meeting was on Tuesday.