CHUBBUCK — Voters chose change Tuesday, electing challenger Rodney Burch as mayor and ending Kevin England’s 12-year tenure leading the city.

Burch secured 1,511 votes, or 55.49 percent, to England’s 1,212 votes, or 44.51 percent, marking a new direction for Chubbuck after nearly more than a decade under the same leadership.

Burch was at home with his wife and grandson, staying up late to watch the final election results roll in Tuesday night.

“It was exciting,” Burch said. “I’ve worked in City Hall here in Chubbuck for six-plus years, and I’m excited for the opportunity to get back in the building and continue to make some positive impacts in our community.”

Burch said he plans to honor his campaign commitments and hit the ground running in the first 12 weeks.

“It’s about reviving the city’s vision and strategic plan, our parks master plan that’s been passed, just getting some energy back behind that, but also we made a strong commitment for committees so we have input from our residents and businesses,” Burch said about his immediate plans after taking office in January. “That’s on our 12-week list to get those committees established.”

Burch also said that in the first portion of his tenure as Chubbuck mayor, he would give direction to bodies within the local government that include the land use development authority, the Chubbuck development authority and the City Council.

“I have a strong desire to make sure all three of those entities understand the direction that the city intends to go, so that we make unified decisions,” Burch said. “I’m not advocating that they have to say yes all the same way, or no all the same way, but that they should at least understand the direction of the community.”

Despite his loss, England is respecting the outcome of Tuesday night’s race, affirming his belief that American democracy is built on elections.

“I’ve been at this for a long time,” England said. “Long before I was an elected official, I was involved in the election. I have total respect when the people speak, you honor what they have said. My attitude is, in all sincerity, I congratulate Mayor-elect Burch. I offer my congratulations as well as my cooperation over the next two months to make sure we have a good, clean handoff and that he’s ready to hit the ground running in January. When the electorate speaks, we honor what they say. I know that I’ve got much more to give, and I’ll find other places to serve and give that.”

The city’s other contested race, Chubbuck City Council Seat 4, saw incumbent Norman Reece Jr. retain his position with 1,590 votes, or 59.93 percent, while challenger Mandy Peace earned 1,063 votes, or 40.07 percent.