By Dustin Gardiner |The Arizona Republic
Former Phoenix Councilwoman Jessica Florez, who represented central Phoenix and was a close advisor to many city leaders, died over the weekend. She was 39.
Family and friends, including several well-known city leaders, said Florez will be remembered for her tough, energetic personality that led her to volunteer on many political campaigns and promote charitable causes, such as college outreach for low-income students.
Florez died Saturday during her sleep, but her exact cause of death was pending a coroner’s report. Her sister, Irma Myers, said Florez fell down the stairs and sustained a concussion on Friday. She also been seeking medical treatment for an infected laceration on her leg.
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said he was shocked to hear of Florez’s passing. She worked as a chief strategist on his three City Council campaigns and was a close friend of he and his wife, visiting the couple at the hospital when their daughter was born.
“She was a powerhouse,” Stanton said of Florez. “She’s someone very, very special to me throughout the years. She loved this city.”
Florez was appointed to the City Council in 2003 after Phil Gordon resigned from the District 4 seat to run for mayor. She served for less than a year and lost the seat to Tom Simplot by 57 votes in a special election.
