ADAMS TWP — A newcomer will take a seat on the board of supervisors after defeating Donald Aiken, a longtime township supervisor and chairman.

Ron Shemela, a Republican, won the most votes in all three Adams voting precincts during the general election Tuesday. He said he had good support from township residents.

“It's a hard thing to unseat people that have that many years,” Shemela said Tuesday night. “But people are ready for a change here. As I said before, people need to be treated with courtesy and respect, and I think that resonated with people.”

Shemela won with 1,501 votes overall in all three precincts, according to unofficial election results of the county Bureau of Elections.

Incumbent Ed Vogel, a Republican, came in second with 1,149 votes overall, taking the second open seat on the board.

Aiken, also a Republican, had 876 votes overall. He has been chairman of the board for at least 20 years and has served on the board of supervisors for more than 40 years.

“I feel bad that I lost, but I lost to two very good people,” Aiken said Tuesday night. “It's OK. It's time for a change anyhow.”