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Senator Carlos Cisneros dies suddenly

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State senate loses a champion for Northern N. M.

Senator Cisneros, D-Questa, died Sept. 17, at the age of 71 of a suspected heart attack.

He represented District 6 since 1985. Cisneros served as chair of the interim Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy Committee and vice-chair of the Senate Finance Committee.

Senator John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, told the N.M. Political Report that Cisneros served on the Senate Finance Committee as the vice-chair.  Smith said, “He was very, very responsible when it came to state finances.”  He added that he and Cisneros often ‘chuckled together’ and spoke every day.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, told the Report Sept 17, “I am completely shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the unexpected death of Carlos Cisneros. The senator faithfully served Northern New Mexico and our state for more than three decades.  His leadership and friendship will be sorely missed.”

Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe said on Twitter, He [Cisneros] was a champion for northern New Mexico who loved serving our state.”

The Senate Republican Caucus sent out a statement saying, “We grieve the loss for his family and friends.  Senator Cisneros was a dedicated public servant, whose sincere desire was to improve the condition of the state, so all New Mexicans could flourish and thrive.”

In the statement released by the Republican Caucus, there was also this. “Our state is much better off because when Senator Cisneros spoke on the Senate floor and as he chaired his powerful interim Revenue, Stabilization and Tax Policy Committee, he commanded a great deal of respect because of his sincere and thoughtful perspectives.”

In addition to his positions on the Joint Committee on Revenue Stabilization and Tax policy and the Senate Committee on Finance, Cisneros served as a State Committee Member of the Joint Legislative Committee on Finance, the Senate Committee on Committees, the Joint Committee on Radioactive and Hazardous Material and the Joint Legislative Council.

According to “Bill Track 50,” Cisneros sponsored bills SB462, to create an outdoor recreation division in the economic development department, SM 36 – a memorial honoring “La Marcha De Los Novios,” SJM16 – a joint memorial declaring March 5, 2019 “End Hunger Day” in the New Mexico Legislature, SB 264, an act outlining provisions to support the preservation, development and establishment of rural libraries throughout the state, HB 55, an act related to elections, enacting the agreement among the states to elect the president by national popular vote, amending the election code to conform with the agreement and SB402, an act making an appropriation to provide the N. M. Mortgage Finance Authority matching funds for the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program.