The ease with which a ballot question to add two supervisors in Shenango Township passed surprised even its main proponent, William F. Williams Sr.

Unofficial vote tallies show that 496 people -- 62 percent of those who cast ballots -- wanted the board of supervisors to expand to five members, while 308 thought three was just fine.

"I'm really surprised that it went that far," said Williams, who also snagged the remaining two years of an unexpired term on the board. "I figured we would win. I didn't think it would go like this."

The initiative was placed on the ballot quietly and Williams admitted there wasn't any organized promotion of the issue.

"It was just the word of mouth got along," he said.

Williams, who floated petitions to get the issue on the ballot, said he faced a few questions at the polls, such as "What is this going to give us?" and "How is this going to help us?"

Williams' position was that a five-member board would break up the "buddy-buddy system" that he said has reigned in the township for too long.

"There's a kind of buddy system up there right now," agreed Kevin J. Kirk, who was elected to a seat on the West Middlesex Area School Board. "If you get two buddies voting one way, that's the way it goes. The more we get, the better off we'll be."

Williams also contended that the more people on the board, the greater the chance to get things done.

"I thought it would benefit to have more help in the township," said Dennis Price of Bedford Road, a Democrat.

Cynthia Clarke of Wheatland Road said a larger board should expand discussion on township issues.

"Perhaps, with adding two more opinions, it would improve the township," said Ms. Clarke, a Democrat.

"I think having an additional two supervisors would add a broader base to Shenango Township, giving a more well-rounded voice for Shenango Township residents," said Shelley Dorfi, a Farkas Road Republican.

Williams said five supervisors should be able to do a better job attracting businesses.

"It all seems to be going right by us," he said. "We really haven't detected why."

Under the Second Class Township Code, the newly created supervisor seats will be filled in November 2002. One seat will be for three years and the other for five. Once those initial terms are up, the seats will be six-year terms, the length of time for the existing three seats.

1 Democrat, 1 Republicanelected

Republican Charles Gilliland netted a six-year seat, while Democrat William F. Williams, Sr. came out on top for the remaining two years of an unexpired term.

The votes were very close. Gilliand topped Democrat Walter R. “Rob” Gelesky Jr. by 15 votes. Williams edged his Republican challenger — Gilliland — by 19 votes.

In the race for tax collector, Republican Patricia A. Sweesy earned 66 percent of the vote to propel her to a fifth term. She beat Democratic challenger Judith A. Welch.