Florence mourns Ward 1 council member

The City of Florence confirms Ward 1 council member Mel Edwards died Sunday.

Edwards, 52, took his own life.

Appointed to city council in July 2013, Edwards ran unopposed and was reelected in November 2013.

City Manager Mike Patterson says no one ran against Edwards in 2013 because he was so popular. Patterson said Edwards was the life of the party and a good council member. He said Edwards was a fan of Colorado sports, especially the Denver Broncos.

“We thank Mel for all the service that he gave to our community,” Patterson said. “He was a dedicated council member. He worked very hard for the community.”

City council will appoint someone to temporarily fill the Ward 1 seat.

A Realtor by profession, Edwards is survived by a wife, son and two daughters.