CASCOS'S RECORD OF FISCAL MANAGEMENT MAKES HIM THE CHOICE FOR COUNTY JUDGE

Carlos Cascos

The phrase "county judge" is an antiquated designation.  The office is not so much that of judge as of a manager, protecting and expanding the county's resources and infrastructure.  

While each salaried county commissioner advocates for the needs of their precinct, those needs have to be balanced against the overall needs of the county, thus the county judge.

If, as they say, the best predictor of future performance is past actions, Cascos, the accountant by trade, should continue his careful monitoring of county funds.

Something Cascos has always opposed is raises for public officials, who knew the salary of the position they sought, but seek a raise in salary after their election.

Recently, this principle was tested at the state level.  Notice Cascos remarks on Facebook:

"At the State Republican Executive Committee meeting in Austin today, the recently elected Republican State Party Chair, James Dickey is seeking exactly this....advocating & posturing himself to be paid a salary in the neighborhood of $150,000 per year. 

This is not only wrong, it is obscene. This position is not a paid position & hasn't been in the past. Had he made it part of his platform when he was running this past summer, the outcome of his election may have been different."

In 2015 Nena and I attended a Salary Grievance Committee Hearing at the Dancy Court House.  

Justice of the Peace Sally Gonzalez was asking for a $9,132 raise, while Constable Abel Gomez wanted $7,314 and Sheriff Omar Lucio was seeking a $25,000 increase in salary.

Sheriff Lucio, Sally Gonzalez
om 2015

Sheriff Lucio, who was sitting next to Nena and I, seemed visibly annoyed that, before the committee voted, Cascos asked to meet with them in Executive Session.

"None of these raises will be approved.  Cascos, right now, is telling them to vote "no!" Lucio whispered. 

When the committee came back into chambers, they voted 8-1 against all three raises.  Lucio shrugged his shoulders, giving me an "I told you so!" look.

So, while Cameron County Republican underlings have done some goofball stuff in recent times,  none of those shenanigans have been tied to Cascos.  

Taxpayers interested in protecting and managing county assets in a frugal, cost-efficient way, may wish to consider Carlos Cascos's record of fiscal management when they go to the polls in November.