Carlos Cascos
| Carlos Cascos | |
|---|---|
| 110th Secretary of State of Texas | |
| Assumed office January 13, 2015 |
|
| Governor | Greg Abbott |
| Preceded by | Nandita Berry |
| County Judge of Cameron County | |
| In office January 2007 – January 2015 |
|
| Preceded by | Gilberto Hinojosa |
| Succeeded by | Pete Sepulveda, Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 18, 1952 Matamoros, Mexico |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Aurora Candida Cascos |
| Children | Andrea Casandra |
| Alma mater | University of Texas, Austin |
Carlos Humberto Cascos (born September 18, 1952) is an American Certified Public Accountant and politician who serves as the 110th Secretary of State of Texas. He was appointed by his fellow Republican, Governor Greg Abbott, and was confirmed by the Texas State Senate on February 18, 2015.[1]
Background
Cascos was born in the city of Matamoros in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. He emigrated to the United States as a child and became a permanent resident and citizen during adolescence.[2] Cascos studied at the University of Texas at Austin. He and his wife, Aurora Candida G. Cascos (born 1953), have two daughters, Andrea and Cassandra.[3]
He is also currently the CPA at the Brownsville law firms of Pattillo, Brown & Hill and John T. Floyd.[3]
Political life
Cascos was elected county judge of Cameron County in far South Texas in November 2006, when he unseated the 12-year incumbent, Gilberto Hinojosa, who in 2012 became the current Texas Democratic state party chairman. In tapping Cascos for Secretary of State, Abbott said that Cascos has "proven leadership experience. [He is] someone who understands how government works, someone who can cultivate strong bonds along the border as well as someone who can advance Texas' interests both at home and abroad."[4]Abbott added, "He is a person I have known for years and whose judgment I trust.".[2]
Abbott announced Cascos's selection on November 11, 2014, one week after Abbott's own victory over Wendy R. Davis for governor and Cascos's companion triumph for a third term as the county judge of Cameron County in far South Texas. Abbott polled 42 percent of the vote in traditionally Democratic Cameron County. Cascos defeated the Democrat Joe Rivera, the outgoing Cameron County clerk. Cascos will succeed Nandita Berry, the eighth person to hold the position of secretary of state since 2000 under the outgoing administration of Governor Rick Perry. Berry will step down after a full year in office to return to private life in Houston.[4]
Cascos said that as secretary of state he will develop a comprehensive water plan and represent Texas in consultations with Mexico regarding treaties impacting the use of the Rio Grande. He also plans to seek a role for American companies in the development of an ongoing energy boom in northern Mexico.[4]
In 2004, Governor Perry appointed Cascos to the Texas Public Safety Commission. After he became county judge, Perry named Cascos as the presiding officer of the Texas Border Security Council.[4]
References
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | County Judge of Cameron County 2007–2015 |
Succeeded by Pete Sepulveda, Jr. |
| Preceded by | Secretary of State of Texas 2015–present |
Incumbent |
