Battlefield mayor resigns

Courtesy Debra Hickey Mayor of the City of Battlefield Facebook page

Debra Hickey was an elected official for the city for nearly two decades.

A longtime public servant has resigned as mayor of the city of Battlefield.

Mayor Debra Hickey's resignation was effective Oct. 15, according to a news release. She served as mayor since April 2014.

Battlefield City Clerk Beth West said via email that Hickey resigned for undisclosed health reasons. Ward III Alderman Mark Crabtree, who is mayor pro-tem, will preside over meetings until a new mayor is elected in April 2024, West said.

"The Board of Aldermen and staff appreciate her tenacity in a life of service to the community she holds so dear," officials said in a news release. "The city extends its hope for continued health and an enjoyable time with her beloved family in Ms. Hickey’s future. We are deeply grateful for her legacy of service."

Hickey has served nearly 20 years as an elected Battlefield official, first as an alderman and then as mayor, according to a post on her mayoral Facebook page.

As mayor, Hickey is credited in the release with signing a proclamation to make Battlefield an autism-friendly city, overseeing the installation of a new inclusive playground at the Cherokee Trail of Tears Park and governing a city with a population that grew to more than 5,990 in 2020 from 2,385 in 2000.

Hickey served as board president of the Missouri Municipal League in 2020, and her past government work includes jobs as a reserve police officer for Battlefield, police officer for the city of Republic and school police officer for Springfield Public Schools.

City of Battlefield mayoral terms run for four years, said West.