Passaic Councilwoman Zaida Polanco has died.

“The city is in shock,” said Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-36). “What does one say?”

Councilwoman Polanco’s cause of death was not immediately known. She had just returned to Passaic ahead of a city council meeting after traveling to the Dominican Republic.

Mayor Hector Lora was with the Councilwoman’s parents this morning.

First elected to the Board of Education during the years of Mayor Alex Blanco. In 2011 she won her first  city council race and was reelected in 2015. She served as the director of human resources for the Passaic Board of Education.

“I feel horrible,” said friend Omar Ledsma, a veteran Democratic Party operative. “She was the field director of a group of students for Bob Menendez for senate in 2006. That’s when I first met her. She was the director of field in the City of Passaic. Then we got Alex Blanco elected in 2008 and reelected. I was her right hand man. I feel horrible.”