MEET BROWNSVILLE'S NEWEST "ODD COUPLE," CASCOS & BOBBY! HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?

Merriam Webster defines the phrase "odd couple" as: "two people with a special connection or relationship who are very different from each other."

Bobby Wightman-Cervantes

In view of the above definition, perhaps no one ever suspected that blogger Bobby Wightman-Cervantes and former County Judge, Carlos Cascos, two distinctly different people, might yet have a sort of special connection, not limited to their vision for the RGV region, but, also in terms of style and teamwork.

Would we be entirely out of line in referring to them as an "odd couple?"

Three Brownsville Bloggers in 2012, along with Carlos Cascos' Administrative Assistant, Chris Valadez.  From left to right:  Jerry McHale, Juan Montoya, Chris Valadez, Jim Barton

Wightman actually hinted as much recently when he described an event in 2012, when Brownsville's bloggers were summoned to the office of County Judge Cascos to discuss grievances and complaints against then Election  Administrator, Roger Ortiz.

Wightman claims that Cascos gave him the honor of a "private audience" to discuss what the lesser bloggers were to discuss later in a group forum.

Notice Wightman's description:  

"Jim I remain to have an open door with elected officials in every office in Cameron County and Brownsville. You do not. 

When Cascos asked to speak with the bloggers over the endless defamation against Roger Ortis I was not there with you, McHale and Montoya, because Cascos afforded me a private audience so I did not have to taint myself by being in your presence."

County Judge and Election Chairman
Carlos Cascos at 2012 Meeting

Interesting that Wightman believes he was being protected by Cascos from being sullied by being in the mere presence of other bloggers.  It's as if Wightman had a private audience with the Holy Father, while the lesser bloggers met with local, subordinate clerics of lesser rank.

In terms of communication from the former county judge, there may also be some inequity.  Notice the relevant part of a recent message from Carlos Cascos to Wightman:  

Good day Bobby,
In response to a post by Jim Barton, you & I have had no conversations regarding any topic, except for our brief discussion at my event regarding my vision for our county.

Of course, there was no such post by me, claiming that Wightman and Cascos had conferred after the Spazgate Extravaganza August 30.  

In an open letter, I challenged Cascos or any of his aides to find such a comment by me, but none has been produced and Cascos has been silent.

Carlos did however offer an extremely gracious well-wish to Mr. Wightman, with regard to his pending surgery, sent to the BROWNSVILLE VOICE comment section:

carlos cascos said... Wishing u a quick recovery....godspeed
September 21, 2018 at 11:38 PM

We wish the same for Bobby, and no one should have to endure the excruciating pain he describes in great detail in the BROWNSVILLE VOICE.

Yet, what Cascos brief message to Wightman does show is that his communication options of email, Facebook inboxing and Google blogger commenting are still in working order. 

In other words, he could have explained his claim about me, had he chosen to do so. He remained silent intentionally. Carlos and Bobby, along with many in Edinburg, McAllen, etc. have a vision of a coordinated regional RGV entity that may eventually include the consolidation of the valley's three Metropolitan Planning Organizations. 

 For now, the two Brownsville men seem to have a good relationship. How long will it last? As we wrote earlier this month: 

"Many local politicos, including Melissa Zamora, Jessica Tetreau-Kalifa and others have learned the hard way, reading flattering words in Bobby's blog one day, then feeling a piercing of cold steel between their shoulder blades the next."