Former Houston Mayor and U.S. Congressman Sylvester Turner has died, according to U.S. representatives and a Houston council member.

Houston's former mayor, Congressman Sylvester Turner, passed away at 70 years old, Mayor John Whitmire announced during a council meeting on Wednesday. Whitmire told the council that Turner was in Washington D.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday voted 5-4 to deny President Donald Trump's emergency bid to avoid paying nearly $2 billion in foreign aid funds. Whitmire announced Turner's death Wednesday morning. He was 70.

I’ve lost a personal friend,” a somber Mayor John Whitmire said before the City Council. “No one will be able to step into Sylvester’s shoes and carry on his duties because there’s only one Sylvester Turner.

Turner's unexpected passing comes months after the 70-year-old was elected to replace Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who also died in office in July.