A local political consultant, publicist, volunteer and one-time candidate for office is in a coma in Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami after an aneurysm felled him on Christmas Day.

Henry Woods collapsed midday Friday and later was airlifted to Miami.

Woods, 57, remained in a coma Monday afternoon "and the prognosis did not look good," said Robert Walker, executive director of AIDS Help Inc., where Woods works as a part-time grants writer and author of several education articles about the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS.

Walker said Woods' longtime partner had called his family to be near.

"Right now we're hoping for a miracle," Walker said. "Here's a guy who did everything right -- didn't drink, didn't smoke, played tennis every day. Henry's our go-to guy anytime we need something planned, organized or written. He just loves to be involved in this community."

Woods is an ardent follower of local and national politics. The Arkansas native worked on Bill Clinton's presidential campaign and later coordinated former Mayor Jimmy Weekley's mayoral runs.

In 2008, Woods ran for supervisor of elections, but lost to longtime incumbent Harry Sawyer.

Woods is an adjunct political science professor at Florida Keys Community College and the owner of a consulting company that handles publicity and press releases for such organizations as the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum.

Weekley on Monday asked the community to keep Woods and his partner, Lee Skillington, in their thoughts and prayers. "Skilly" was scheduled to meet with doctors and neurologists at Mount Sinai late Monday, Weekley said.

"This is a big loss to us as an organization," Walker said, "but it would be an even bigger loss for the community."

mbolen@keysnews.com