Kauai Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste, who was recuperating from recent heart bypass surgery, died today, county officials confirmed.

Paramedics were called to his home where they attempted to resuscitate him following an apparent cardiac arrest.

Baptiste, 52, was recently released from The Queen's Medical Center on Oahu, where the bypass was performed June 13.

Baptiste, who has been Kaua'i mayor since 2002, died at about 4:30 p.m. after being taken to Wilcox Hospital on Kaua'i.

Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann told The Advertiser from Miami that "Kaua'i has lost a great leader, and I have personally lost a friend and colleague."

Hannemann added that Baptiste was a major supporter of the Hawai'i Council of Mayors, which has been meeting regularly for more than two years to discuss issues affecting the four counties.

"It's the first time the four of us (mayors of the counties) have been meeting and working together regularly," Hannemann said.

One of Baptiste's great qualities, Hannemann said, is "he never took himself seriously" and always knew how to break the ice in tense situations.

"He knew when to crack a joke, crack a smile ... he had the right touch," added Hannemann. "His social qualities were impeccable and made him stand out. To me, he was Mayor Aloha."

Gary Heu, Baptiste's administrative assistant and chief of staff, was serving as acting mayor while Baptiste recuperated.

Kaua'i's County Council will select one of its members to serve as mayor through December. In November, a special election will be held to determine who will serve the remaining two years of Baptiste's term.

The Garden Island newspaper reported Baptiste had just flown back to Kaua'i on Saturday after having heart bypass surgery in Honolulu on June 13.

County officials and family members were gathering at Wilcox Memorial Hospital.

"This is a big loss for Kaua'i," County Councilman Tim Bynum said. "This is a guy who really had heart."

The Republican and former county councilman was elected to his second four-year term in 2006.

Baptiste's father served as Kaua'i's mayor about 50 years ago.

As mayor, Baptiste championed the building of more affordable housing, put together programs to fight drug abuse and supported legislation to protect public access.

Earlier this year, the mayor announced plans to revive his stalled proposal to ban gated communities on Kaua'i. The mayor's administration pitched the legislation in 2005, but it stalled because of legal questions.

The measure would prohibit construction of gates and guard shacks that prevent or restrict access to private roads serving five or more homes.

"It creates an 'us and them' mentality," he said at the time.

He also urged those objecting to the Hawaii Superferry serving Nawiliwili Harbor to express themselves peacefully.

"The Coast Guard is tasked with facilitating maritime commerce and now has a plan to do that should the Superferry return," Baptiste said in September about one week after protesters prevented the high-speed ferry from docking on Kaua'i.

"It'll take everyone's cooperation to ensure that peaceful protests can occur without jeopardizing the safety of others," he said.

Hawaii Superferry later suspended plans to serve Kaua'i.

Baptiste is survived by his wife Annette and four children.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.