Hesperia Mayor Russ Blewett died on Wednesday while he was under care at Desert Valley Hospital in Victorville, where he had returned for follow-up procedures after undergoing surgery there in December.
Blewett, 74, had been in office since shortly after being elected in 2010. He had a contentious relationship with his fellow council member, Paul Bosacki, but enjoyed an alliance with other members of the council, such as Bill Holland, Eric Schmidt and Paul Russ.
A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Blewett was active in the local congregation in Hesperia as well as with one in Upland, when he previously resided there.
In his later years, Blewett had lost the use of his legs..
“The City of Hesperia is thankful to the community for the outpouring of condolences after the loss of Mayor Russ Blewett,” the city’s website states.