Two current Pocatello City Council members appointed last year were officially elected to their positions and one new face will join them following Tuesday’s election.

Hayden Paulsen defeated four challengers — Rainbow Maldonado, James Bucci, Steven Contreras and Sierra “Idaho Law” Carta — for Pocatello City Council Seat 1.

Paulsen received 3,808 votes, or 45.52 percent; Maldonado received 2,277 votes, or 27.22 percent; Contreras received 1,523 votes, or 18.2 percent; Bucci received 587 votes, or 7.02 percent; and Carta received 171 votes, or 2.04 percent.

Paulsen will fill the seat left vacant after former Pocatello Police Chief Scott Marchand, who was appointed to the council in September 2022 by Idaho Gov. Brad Little, decided not to run for election.

“My vision is to create a Pocatello where younger people like myself who left want to return to Pocatello,” Paulsen said about his vision for the Gate City when answering an Idaho State Journal questionnaire. “I know many of my peers would love to, but they are concerned about jobs and housing. I wonder why similarly sized cities across the region with universities feel more vibrant and I want to tap our strong potential to better channel the vibrancy we already have. I want all Pocatellans to feel welcome and want to live here and not feel forced to leave due to lack of opportunity.”

For Pocatello City Council Seat 2, Brent Nichols, who was already serving on the council after Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad appointed him in October 2022, was officially elected after defeating his sole challenger, Craig Yadon.

Nichols received 4,815 votes, or 58.86 percent, while Yadon received 3,365 votes or 41.14 percent.

“My vision is that Pocatello continues to grow in a thoughtful, planned way,” Nichols said about his vision for Pocatello when answering a Journal questionnaire. “We continue to work hard to increase our tax base, bring good wages and benefits, provide employment opportunities for our youth and find community-minded partners through a robust economic development plan. I would like to see more affordable housing, walkable streets and a vibrant downtown. We need to continue working to preserve our aquifer, improve the water quality of the Portneuf River, maintain open space and add to our area’s recreational opportunities.”

Corey Mangum, who Blad also appointed at the same time as Nichols, defeated his challenger Gary Ekizian for Pocatello City Council Seat 3.

Mangum received 5,690 votes, or 70.46 percent, while Ekizian received 2,386 votes, or 29.54 percent.

“I want to see the Pocatello thrive and grow as a safe and vibrant community,” Mangum said about his vision for Pocatello when answering a Journal questionnaire. “My desire is to see the city with a robust flowing economy that lends to business growth and expansion along with wonderful affordable housing. My vision is for the future of Pocatello and the families herein. I would like to see Pocatello as a place where kids want to stay after high school, college and any other stage of life. Ensuring a healthy future is my goal.”

And in Chubbuck, incumbent City Council member Melanie Evans defeated her challenger, Annette Baumeister, who last served on the Chubbuck City Council from 2016 to 2020.

Evans received 1,112 votes or 51.48 percent, while Baumeister secured 1,048 votes, or 48.52 percent.

“I want Chubbuck to be a great place to live, work and raise a family,” Evans said about her vision for Chubbuck when answering a Journal questionnaire. “I want to see high-quality development, and more amenities for Chubbuck residents. I want to see beautiful places and spaces within our city. I want Chubbuck to be a place where businesses thrive. I want Chubbuck to be a place that my children will want to come back to.”