Those mourning him today attest that Bryan Baptiste kept the community of Kaua'i first in his career, whether he was working within or outside the political realm.

And now it's clear that following the sudden death of their mayor, residents of that community have Baptiste forefront in their hearts, too.

Baptiste died Sunday at age 52, while recuperating from heart bypass surgery; those who visited with him in his last days report that he was characteristically upbeat and eager to get back to the job.

His supporters, as well as many from across the political aisle, were shocked and saddened.

"For many, it was all about his community roots," said state Sen. Gary Hooser, who served with Baptiste on the Kaua'i County Council before moving to the state Capitol. "The mayor really was an anchor in a sea of change, and I think a lot of residents took comfort in that."

A sea of change, indeed. Not too long after the Garden Island had finally recovered economically from the ravages of Hurricane Iniki, the county government began grappling with the precarious balance between needed economic growth and maintaining the island's cherished rural lifestyle.

Baptiste tried to do that with a development planning matrix that emphasized needed upgrades to roads and other public systems as well as affordable housing.

While the council convenes to appoint a stand-in until the next election, the discussion should focus on finding the person who can advance Baptiste's second-term agenda.

Baptiste's pre-political working life — including years managing the Kaua'i War Memorial Convention Hall and heading an islandwide park beautification program — kept him connected with a broad spectrum of the community.

That caring connection is apparent in Baptiste's record. He was a prime mover behind the plans for the island's first homeless shelter. Bus service expanded, and he championed efforts to celebrate Kaua'i's famous scenic coastline in the Nawiliwili-Anahola bike and pedestrian path.

But it was undoubtedly his personal style that endeared him to the public. At football games, he'd visit with both teams; at political fundraisers, he'd shake hands throughout the ballroom and among the kitchen crew, too.

It's that kind of public servant who truly has earned Kaua'i favorite-son status. The extended 'ohana will miss him greatly.