Community reacts to death of Carlos Cascos

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — With the death of former Cameron County Judge and former Texas Secretary of State Carlos Cascos, local leaders and community members are making public statements to remember his legacy.

Cascos died Wednesday. He was 71.

The Cameron County political powerhouse was born Sept. 18, 1952, in Matamoros, Mexico. Cascos immigrated to the U.S. as a child with his family, according to Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr.

He was raised in Brownsville and attended public school. After graduating, Cascos attended the University of Texas at Austin where he earned his bachelors in political science, government and accounting. In 1985, he became a member of the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy.

In 2006, he was elected as Cameron County Judge and reelected in 2010 and 2014. He also served on the Texas Public Safety Commission and as a Cameron County commissioner from 1991 through 2002.

Cascos served as the 110th Secretary of State under Gov. Greg Abbott from 2015 to 2017. Cascos was known for his strong political representation in the Rio Grande Valley, prompting the South Texas community to mourn his passing.

Treviño and other local leaders shared the following statements in response to the news of Cascos.

"I am deeply saddened and truly sorry to learn about the passing of Judge Cascos. For decades, Judge Cascos was a fixture in our community, serving selflessly as a volunteer, then as an appointed and elected official. As a certified public accountant, fiscal matters, most memorably being fiscally conservative, were always priorities of Judge Cascos while he served both as a County Commissioner and County Judge. My heartfelt condolences go out to the entire Cascos family, the Cascos & Associated CPA firm and all his friends and those affected by his untimely passing. Let us reflect and remember Judge Cascos for all the positive impacts he made towards the betterment of Cameron County, the Rio Grande Valley and the State of Texas for which we are thankful. May he rest in peace."

“I am saddened by the news of Judge Carlos Cascos’ passing. He was a powerful advocate for the city of Brownsville and all of Cameron County.”

“I am shocked and saddened by the news of the passing of dear friend Carlos Cascos. As a former Cameron County Judge, a former Cameron County Commissioner, and a former Texas Secretary of State, Carlos embodied public service and served faithfully not only the people of Cameron County but the Rio Grande Valley and the State of Texas as well. Hidalgo County sends its prayers to Carlos’s family.”