Lemon Grove City Councilman Sitivi Faiai, elected to his first term in November, suddenly died Tuesday, the city announced.
Faiai, who went by "Steve," was a football coach at Helix High School and is survived by a wife and two sons. His age was not immediately available.
"During his service on the City Council, Councilman Faiai brought with him a spirit of integrity, collaboration, and heartfelt commitment," a statement from the city read. "He focused on improving public safety, addressing homelessness and further efforts to support youth and families. His priorities reflected a deep sense of community pride and building a cleaner, safer, and more united Lemon Grove."
Faiai's candidate statement from the November election read: "I believe that supporting working families through strong leadership is critical for a community that is seeking to improve and repair itself after years of neglect. People's safety needs to be a top priority and I will support all efforts to ensure residents have a cleaner city in which they feel comfortable living."
