Sheriff Lucio Blames Judge Cascos for Raise Denial

Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos

Turning to Sheriff Lucio just before the start of the Salary Grievance Hearing, I said:  " It looks like you got your wish.  All nine members are here."

Lucio had commented after the first attempt of the committee to meet was cancelled for lack of a quorum that he hoped all nine members would attend the rescheduled hearing.  A unanimous vote approving his $25,000 raise request would alleviate the need to go before the County Commissioners for approval.

As it turned out, Sheriff Lucio, JP Sallie Gonzalez and Constable Abelardo Gomez would likely have fared better going in front of the County Commissioners, some of whom have shown a tendency to blend politics with pay raises in the past.  With the 8-1 vote by the Salary Grievance Committee against all three raises, the Cameron County budget, said to have already been finalized, dodged a $41,466 direct hit.

At least one petitioner, Cameron County Sheriff Omar Lucio, seems to blame Judge Cascos for the raise denial, if comments made to Brownsville Herald reporter Ty Johnson are taken at face value: 

Speaking after the meeting, Lucio was respectful of the committee’s decision, although he questioned the process by which the meeting had been conducted.  “They were selected and that’s how they voted,” he said.  Lucio said in the past there had not been an executive session for deliberation and that the vote had occurred immediately after the presentations.

If Judge Cascos, the Salary Grievance Committee's non-voting chairman, somehow orchestrated the raise denial, his influence was subtle, behind the scenes.  It's possible that the first scheduled meeting not producing a quorum was somewhat embarrassing, but reports indicated that Cascos or at least his staff were on the phones making certain committee members would attend Tuesday's meeting.  Changing the time of the meeting from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM was done to accommodate the members.

Judge Cascos opened the meeting with the announcement that remarks by those grieving for raises would be reduced from 30 to 5 minutes.  Those signing up for Public Comment would be limited to 3 minutes each.

The first commenter called was the 83 year old Dagoberto Barrera, who all knew would bombastically oppose the raises.  Cascos distanced himself from the sometimes obnoxious Barrera by cautioning him:  "Don't scare anybody!"  Then, just as Barrera was getting wound up, Cascos said:  "Your time is up!"

Cameron County Sheriff Lucio

80 year old Sheriff Lucio did not help himself with his oral arguments on behalf of his raise.  After a long awkward pause, he dove into 30 minutes worth of carefully prepared material, but his remarks were barely audible.  We sat only 5 feet away and had to strain to hear.  The panel had the printout, however, that could be read and discussed in private session.  His arguments were based on the size of the county, the number of employees he supervises, his responsibility for the operation of the Carrizalez Rucker Detention Center, the accomplishments of his administration and the huge amounts of drug forfeitures that had enriched county coffers.  He included a list of comparative salaries of other sheriffs, police chiefs and administrators.

Lucio, based on his remarks quoted above, likely feels that Judge Cascos argued vociferously behind closed doors against the raises.  Cascos claims to have simply clarified a few figures for the panel and then bowed out while they deliberated.  In any event, we're certain he is pleased with the results.

One panel member, Maribel Garza, extended her arm nearly out of its socket, in demonstrating her approval for all three raises, twice before Cascos even finished asking who favored the raise.

As the panel dispersed, Dagobert Barrera, clapping loudly enough for an entire audience, shouted out:  "Thank you for your conservative decision!"