Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Wednesday ordered all state flags lowered to half-staff to honor and recognize the memory of Sen. Carlos Cisneros, who died Tuesday.

State flags will be lowered immediately through sundown of Friday, Sept. 20, as part of a public period of mourning.

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Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday issued the following statement regarding the death of Sen. Carlos Cisneros:

“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.

“The Senate was made a better place by his wealth of institutional knowledge. A senior member of the body and an important committee chairman, he played an instrumental role in delivering infrastructure projects all across the state for many decades. The senator strove for impartiality and fairness, and he was as good a listener as he was a talker. When I took office, Senator Cisneros stepped up and offered to draft our first priority bill, a piece of legislation that ultimately doubled the state’s investment in small businesses. He was a solid partner.

“He began his professional career as a mine worker and became a union leader; he was a student of New Mexico all his life. I extend my deepest condolences to his family, his friends and colleagues in the Senate, and all who loved him.”