Mark Hickey not seeking re-election

Mark Hickey will not seek re-election to the Rochester City Council this November.

The retired Army colonel told the Post-Bulletin Thursday this term on the council would be his last. Hickey was first elected to the Ward 5 seat during a special election in 2013. He took over the position from Randy Staver, who became city council president in the wake of Dennis Hanson's death.

“A large part of my council job is assisting the people in Ward 5 who contact me about issues and problems in their neighborhoods and this is the part of the job that I will miss the most,” said Hickey. “I’m grateful that the voters in Ward 5 have given me the opportunity to represent them for the last five and one half years.”

Only one candidate, attorney Michael Walters, has announced plans to run for the seat. Candidates for local office can begin officially filing for election on May 22; the deadline for signing up is June 5.