HARRISBURG, Pa. — Harrisburg, Pa., Councilwoman Eugenia Smith died April 11 at Harrisburg Hospital, where she was rushed after becoming ill at home. She was 53.
No official cause of death was immediately announced.
"This is deeply shocking," said Mayor Eric Papenfuse, who ordered City Hall flags flown at half-mast.
Smith spent more than 25 years in public service and first won election to the council in 2009. She was named vice president in 2012 and re-elected in November. She chaired the public safety committee and worked closely with the Harrisburg fire and police departments.
She was part of a bloc of four council members who in 2011 voted against the initially proposed state-sponsored financial recovery plan for Pennsylvania's capital. After the council rejected the so-called Act 47 plan three times, the state placed Harrisburg in receivership.
Papenfuse's order to fly flags at half-mast also honors former councilwoman Judith Hill, who died April 8, age 85. Hill was the first African-American on the Harrisburg council and also served on the school board.
The city recently began to implement a recovery plan aimed at keeping the 49,000-population city out of bankruptcy.
