ADAMS TWP — A township stalwart who has served on the board of supervisors for more than 40 years has been unseated.

Donald Aiken, who for the past 20 years has been the chairman of the supervisors, did not earn enough votes to appear as one of the two Republican candidates in the November election.

Newcomer Ron Shemela beat Aiken, and his four other opponents, in all three Adams precincts.

Incumbent Ed Vogel beat Aiken for the second spot on the Republican ticket.

Aiken earned the second spot in the Adams 1 precinct, but lost to Shemela in the two other precincts.

In the third precinct, Vogel beat Aiken by just two votes.

In the Adams 1 precinct, the top two vote-getters were Shemela, who earned 100 votes, and Aiken, at 82. Vogel earned 81 votes, and Thomas Dover 43.

Aiken lost the Adams 2 precinct to Shemela, who earned 84 votes to Aiken's 66. Shemela also edged Vogel in Adams 2, where Vogel earned 73 votes. Vogel came in second in that precinct.

In Adams' third precinct, Shemela earned 174 votes, Vogel 139, Aiken 137 and Dover 105.

Aiken was pragmatic about losing his supervisors seat after more than four decades in office.

“I lost and that's fine,” Aiken said on Tuesday night. “It's just one of those things.”

Aiken said he remains proud of his time on the supervisors board, and counted the new township building, fire hall and community park among his accomplishments.

“I did the best I could during those years,” Aiken said.

Shemela was surprised and delighted on Tuesday night.

“That's a feat,” Shemela said of unseating Aiken. “I just don't have words for it right now. I had a good feeling about it but I'm just overwhelmed at the margin.”

Shemela reckons that voters in the township felt it was time for a change of leadership in the fast-growing township.

He also said residents of the residential-agricultural zoning district who oppose planned residential developments in that zone did not appreciate Aiken's vote to approve both recent PRDs.

“A lot of people said to me 'Ron, it's time for a change,'” Shemela said.

But Shemela was quick to express respect for Aiken's long service to the township.

“I told both Ed Vogel and Don Aiken they've done a great job here,” Shemela said.

He recalled having lunch with Aiken and sharing that he was considering a run for supervisor.

“(Aiken) encouraged me to run,” Shemela said.

He again praised Aiken for helping to shape the township during its transition from a rural, farming community to a fast-growing suburb of Pittsburgh.

“He's done a lot of great things,” Shemela said of Aiken.

Shemela also thanked the voters of Adams Township for their votes in the primary.

“I just really appreciate the support,” Shemela said. “I've lived here all my life and the people came out and supported me.”