BROOKSVILLE – Pat Fagan is back in the chairman’s seat for the Hernando School Board, though the process to pick him got a little awkward Tuesday night.

Dianne Bonfield, who had been chairwoman until giving up the position in September because she refused to sign interim superintendent Sonya Jackson’s contract, nominated current chairman John Sweeney. Sweeney had taken on the role on an interim basis after Bonfield stepped aside.

“As he came to be chairperson in a most unusual way for this board and because he was vice-chair, he deserves to be chairperson for this next year,” Bonfield said.

But board member James Yant had another idea and nominated Fagan.

When it came time to vote, Bonfield, of course, voted for Sweeney. So did Sweeney.

Board member Sandra Nicholson joined Yant in voting for Fagan. So did Fagan.

Fagan, who is a year into his second term and has served as chairman before, thanked the board for the vote and thanked Sweeney for filling in for Bonfield.

“Thanks, Pat,” replied Sweeney, who just started the last year of his first term. “I know you’ve done a great job in the past and I expect nothing less.”

Fagan took over the meeting and proceeded to flub the wording of an agenda item and then needed some coaching on procedure to pick a vice chairman.

“I’m a little nervous so forgive me,” Fagan said. “It’s been a while.”

“It’s like riding a bicycle,” Sweeney said.

Sweeney then nominated Nicholson, by far the longest serving board member, for vice chair.

There were no other nominations, and the vote for Nicholson was unanimous.

--Tony Marrero, Times staff