ADAMS TOWNSHIP — Four Republicans will vie for two Republican nominations to the township board of supervisors.

Because there are no Democrats on the ticket the two Republican winners will have no apparent competition in the fall general election.

Incumbents Donald Aiken and Ed Vogel plus newcomers Ron Shemela and Thomas Dover will appear on the Republican ballot on Tuesday.

Donald Aiken

Aiken has served as the supervisors chairman for at least 20 years, and as a supervisor before that.

Aiken said that other than some zoning issues that have cropped up, the board is in a good place.

“We have no problems right now,” Aiken said. “We have a good board that wants to keep taxes low.”

Ed Vogel

Vogel, who has occupied a seat on the dais for 35 years, said he was appointed to the position after the death of another supervisor.

Vogel said many important improvements to the township have been made during his tenure, including the new fire station, the community park, a larger police department, increased population and improved roads.

“I grew up here and spent my whole life here,” Vogel said of his decision to run again, “so naturally I would like to see the township do the best it can.”

Ron Shemela

Shemela, a retired sales executive who now runs a small custom awning business, said it's time for a change of leadership in the growing township.

He also said the board needs to be more receptive to residents who share concerns during the twice-monthly supervisors meetings.

“The board needs to treat the public with respect and courtesy,” Shemela said, “and I see a change in that in the last couple years.”

Shemela said the supervisors must control growth as it relates to infrastructure like roads.

“People think (planned residential developments) have to happen, and they do not,” he said.

Thomas Dover

Dover, a retired special agent and supervisory special agent with the Secret Service, works full time as an information security specialist in the health care industry and teaches twice per week at Butler County Community College.

An important issue in the township to Dover is traffic congestion on Route 228.

“Over the years I've seen the traffic increase to the point where folks will avoid Route 228 and Three Degree Road at certain times of day because the traffic is so bad,” he said.

He is also concerned with better use of the large township park and preserving the rural area of the township.

“If there is an area designated rural, that's how it should remain,” Dover said.