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Staff member for US Rep. Vern Buchanan dies from coronavirus

BRADENTON, Fla. — A staff member for U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan died of complications from the coronavirus Friday morning, the Florida congressman announced.

Gary Tibbetts, 66, a member of Buchanan’s staff since 2011, died at a Bradenton, Florida, hospital, the Bradenton Herald reported.

Tibbetts was a retired police sergeant from New Hampshire, serving 26 years with the Manchester Police Department, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported. His duties as a police officer ranged from juvenile services to working on SWAT units, the newspaper reported.

“Devastated by the death of my longtime staffer Gary Tibbetts, who passed away today at Manatee Memorial Hospital from COVID-19. Gary was the consummate professional and a true public servant in every sense of the word,” Buchanan said Friday in a statement posted on social media.

Buchanan announced on July 15 that Tibbetts had been hospitalized for treatment, and was in stable condition, the Herald-Tribune reported.

Tibbetts is the first congressional aide known to have died from the coronavirus, USA Today reported.

“Neither the congressmen nor other staff has had any recent contact with Mr. Tibbetts,” Buchanan said in a statement.

Florida Rep. Margaret Good, who is challenging Buchanan for his seat in Florida’s 16th Congressional District, issued a statement expressing her condolences.

“I’m deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Gary Tibbetts,” Good said. “My heart goes out to his family, friends, and colleagues. He was a dedicated public servant who worked every day to make this community a better place.”

In a statement, Manchester police Chief Carlo Capano described Tibbetts as “kind and fair.”

“It was a privilege working for him on the midnight shift back in 1996,” Capano said. “I had the opportunity to get to know him very well as my sergeant during my early years with the Manchester Police Department.”