MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) – Voters in New Hampshire’s largest city elected Republican Frank Guinta mayor on Tuesday, ending Democrat Bob Baines’ bid for a fourth term.

Guinta, a city alderman, received 10,115 votes to 9,579 cast for Baines, according to unofficial results from all 12 of the city’s wards. During their fierce campaign, Baines took credit for downtown revitalization and a healthy economy, while Guinta focused on taxes, public safety and schools.

“People want a change. That’s what I’ve been feeling,” said Guinta.

Voters in most other cities also went to the polls to elect mayors, including residents of Keene, Laconia, Somersworth and Rochester.

In Portsmouth, 19 candidates competed for nine seats on the City Council, with the top voter-getter becoming mayor. Steve Marchand came in first with 2,734 votes followed by Thomas Ferrini with 2,238. Marchand, 31, has served one term on the council, calling strongly for more efficiency in city budgets. He was among four councilors who voted against the city’s overall budget last June.

Laconia voted 1,842 to 1,708 to cap municipal spending, including on schools, to the rate of the inflation. Spurred by a proposal to build a new high school and middle school at a cost of $75 million, supporters of the cap said the initiative would force city and school board leaders to be more careful with taxpayer dollars.

But most city leaders said the cap would lead to a deterioration of services, and the money is not being wasted because the city needs to renovate or build schools, libraries and the police station.