SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The news of San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee's death was shocking to many residents throughout the city.
"Oh my God, I was hoping it was fake news," San Francisco resident Tecla Duran said.
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"I can't believe it because he was so young and healthy and you know, he was such a nice person. It's really sad," San Francisco resident Silvia Valencia said.
"It's a sad occasion. He's a young man," San Francisco resident Richard Stranzl said.
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Lee became San Francisco's first Asian American mayor when he was appointed to the position in 2011.
"He's a trailblazer by all means," David Sohn said. "I think the city is going to suffer a big loss because of this. In terms of representation of Asian Americans in leadership positions and hopefully someone will take his place."
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The latest census shows 35 percent of the population of San Francisco is Asian. "My mom is actually from China from the same province that he was from. I think that he was an amazing role model and you know was an advocate for this area and this community and for the Asian-American Community at large," San Francisco resident Lauren Holden said.
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