Bellevue Mayor Ed Babbitt, 70, has been hospitalized after suffering a heart attack Sunday morning at his home.

His condition has not been released out of respect for his family, according to city administrator Gary Troutman.

Sources tell Channel 6 News Bellevue City Council President Gary Mixan has assumed the power and duties of mayor.

In a statement issued late Monday Troutman said, "At this time, there are no pending matters that require the immediate attention of the Mayor and therefore no additional inquiry of the Mayor or Mrs. Barbara Babbitt is being made...as to when he will resume his duties as Mayor and the City of Bellevue is operating as usual."

Voters made Ed Babbitt mayor of Bellevue in 2006. Previously, he spent 24-years as a city councilman. On Monday, his parking space remained empty at city hall -- a building he helped dedicate in 1979.

Rich Boehne's mother went to high school in Red Oak, Iowa, with Ed Babbitt. The news of his life-threatening heart attack spread quickly around Bellevue. "He's the figure-head of Bellevue. We all hope he recovers."

Bellevue's government is set up this way: the city administrator, not the mayor, runs day-to-day operations and the city council carries a stronger role.

"There's plenty of people around to get the day-to-day work done," says Boehne. "The city council is all elected so they definitely have their ear to the public."

"Obviously people like what he's doing," says Courtney Gentle, who was watching her son play baseball at Haworth Park. "Otherwise, he wouldn't be in the position that he's been in for so long."

It's unclear if Babbitt will ever return. He went to the hospital in critical condition and no more updates have been provided by the city or family for the man who was in charge of Nebraska's 3rd largest city.