Former Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos passes away

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — ValleyCentral can confirm that former Cameron County Judge and former Texas Secretary of State Carlos Cascos has died.

According to Justice of the Peace Linda Salazar, Cascos passed away Wednesday night at Valley Regional Hospital in Brownsville. She pronounced him dead at 9:15 p.m.

Judge Salazar said she was told by a nurse the cause of death was cardiac arrest and that he had a history of heart disease.

Cascos served as Texas Secretary of State from 2015 to 2017. Before that, he served as county judge, on the Texas Public Safety Commission, and as a Cameron County commissioner.

Brownsville City Commissioner Pedro Cardenas issued a statement about Cascos' death.

"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."

Cascos was 71 years old.

ValleyCentral is working to confirm the details surrounding his death.