Fairfield Mayor Harry T. Price dies days before end of term

Fairfield Mayor Harry T. Price died Friday morning, just days before his fourth term was set to end, city officials said.

The city declined to release a cause of death. Price was 85.

Councilmember Catherine Moy, who defeated the incumbent Price in the recent November election, wrote in a LinkedIn post on Friday that she will be sworn in as mayor next week.

“I’m heartbroken to tell you that Mayor Harry Price passed away this morning,” Moy wrote.

Price was elected to the City Council in 1997, according to the city’s website. He went on to win the mayor’s seat in 2005 and was reelected to three more terms.

Born in Pennsylvania, Price moved to Fairfield with his family in 1965. He taught English at Vanden High School for 33 years until his retirement in 1998, winning the Solano County Teacher of the Year award in 1986.

“Mayor Price truly loved his community and was a great advocate for Travis Air Force Base and quality youth programs,” the city said in a statement. “His presence will be keenly missed.”