Former host of BET's "Teen Summit" and nascent politician AJ Cooper III, who recently made a proposal for D.C. Council, passed away Dec. 4 in his hometown of Washington, D.C. at the age of 34.

According to a report from The Washington Post, Cooper's aunt Peggy Cooper Cafrtiz, the political candidate had been experiencing chest pain and dizziness for days. Days later, he collapsed fatally in his mother's home. Brenda Rhodes Miller, Cooper's mother, said the former TV host died "suddenly" Wednesday morning.

Born into a political family, Cooper started his career as a policy director for D.C.'s Prevent Teen Pregnancy before initiating a career in the D.C. council in 2012. Other credentials include working alongside Freedom Farms assisting low-income residents in the D.C. area with supplemental income and produce.

"He thought a lot of people could get jobs that way, and he thought it could be really, really successful here," Cafrtiz said to The Post.

Cooper also organized a protest for Michael Brown outside of Missouri's Justice Department headquarters on Monday.

Upon the outrage of a grand jury declining to indict Darren Wilson on the shooting death of Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson, Missouri, the Washington Post reports that Cooper took to his Facebook page to ask followers to create change by being active in government.

"All I can say is that all of the emotions you are feeling need to be channeled into political power. Let that burning feeling in your gut be the fuel to power a movement. Otherwise when the smoke clears all we will have left are tears and ashes."

Cooper's father, Algernon Johnson Cooper, became the first black mayor elected in a majority-white city in Alabama when he was elected mayor of a mostly-Caucasian Pritchard, Alabama, in 1972. The former TV host had hopes of continuing that legacy.

Cafritz, a former president of the D.C. Board of Education and longtime philanthropist and arts advocate, shared with the Washington Post: "He loved the city, and he loved serving the people in the city, from the elderly to the young. Jay was just on the verge of bursting forth."

Hello Beautiful noted the importance of Cooper's role on Teen Summit, which ran Sept. 16, 1989 to Aug. 31, 2003. Cooper, who was billed as "Jay" on the show, hosted the show between 2000 and 2003 during the height of the teen pop era. Major label artists such as Total, Lil' Kim, and pop icon Usher performed. Viewed as an important show for black youth, the show covered hot topics such as bullying, sexuality, dating and inspiring teens to uplift their communities through teamwork and volunteer efforts. 

The Post reported that Cooper announced his intention to seek the Ward 4 council seat last month, following the news that Muriel E. Bowser would be transitioning into his role as mayor on Jan. 2. According to a family statement, Cooper became engaged to be married the week before.

"My heart goes out to the family of AJ Cooper who tragically passed away this morning. He was a positive force & touched the lives of many," tweeted Vincent C. Gray, Mayor of District of Columbia on Dec 3. Prior to sending the tweet, Gray announced updated information of the funeral arrangements for former mayor and councilmember Marion Barry, who was laid to rest Thursday morning.