Former New Mexico Tourism Secretary Michael Cerletti has died.
State officials say Cerletti died Tuesday. His age and the cause of death weren’t immediately available Wednesday nor was a list of his survivors or funeral plans.
Cerletti served as tourism secretary under former Gov. Bill Richardson from 2004 to 2010. Before that, he served under Richardson as general manager of the New Mexico State Fair.
In 2010, the National Council of State Tourism Directors named Cerletti as their State Tourism Director of the Year.
Cerletti became the state’s first Secretary of Tourism in 1991 when then Gov. Bruce King elevated the Tourism Department to a cabinet-level position and appointed him to serve.
KOB-TV says Cerletti held many jobs in the private sector before and after serving in government.
