Monday, September 24, 2018

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.

20 comments:

  1. Would he have voted for tax breaks for LNG? My guess is yes.

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  2. I did ask Cascos about this. While he told me that LNG plants "could not be stopped" if they passed regulations and environmental tests, he claimed to not be in favor of tax abatements for businesses "that were already coming" and "highly profitable."

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  3. We are trading our health and safety for a few jobs. They better not get any damn tax breaks.

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  4. Vote your conscience, not your party affiliation. Say NO to the palanca.

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  5. None of the shenanigans have been tied to Cascos? Hahaha. That’s not what you’ve been implying for weeks, old man.

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    1. Yes, it's hard to imagine Chris and Tad acting on their own, but there's no evidence yet of Cascos's involvement in the poorly executed Spazgate.

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  6. Ranting about Spazgate yet endorse the man anyway is one way to look foolish.

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    1. Like I told Jerry McHale recently; without worrying about embarrassing Nena, I no longer give a shit. I can look foolish, contradictory, even evil.

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  7. Is this endorsement in response to the odd couple? Are you jealous?

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  8. So, you eventually paid the debt on that free ticket to the Cascos fundraiser. Totally expected, dude!!! LOL

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    1. Dude, you're not that bright. In retrospect, local Republicans would not have issued me a ticket to anything. My coverage, while fair, has not been pro G.O.P. From the Republican standpoint, I will be persona non grata in the future.

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    2. This posting is soooo-oh "pro G.O.P." No other way to read this, Jim. Own it. You and Bobby.

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    3. Persona non grata? I don’t think so. That’s how the local Democrat leadership operates if you don’t support those of their choice.

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    4. Tell that to J.Ball, MG.

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  9. If some one desires to be updated with latest technologies afterward he must be pay a visit this site and be up to date every day.

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  10. A person who doesn’t give a shit wouldn’t care if they were persona non grata. There are more Democrats than Republicans in Brownsville. You should care about being persona non grata with us.

    You didn’t give Judge Trevino an interview or attend his meet the candidate event coming up before you gave away your endorsement.

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    1. He’s been writing about the boneheaded actions of a few on one side and you all should be happy he’s ignoring the criminal and disgusting actions of too many on yours.

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    2. Morgan’s trying too hard with the criminal thing and this county judge race.

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    3. I will gladly publish any evidence of criminality Morgan has.

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