"I will continue to be involved in civic engagement, public service and am available for speaking engagements..."Texas Secretary of Carlos Cascos
By Juan Montoya
By Juan Montoya
This sentence, according to sources close to outgoing Texas Secretary of State Carlos Cascos, is the most important one of the press release the former Cameron County Judge posted for the media on his website.
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The reason is because after two years as TSOS, Cascos has traveled throughout the state and has met Texans of all walks of life. HE has also met and impressed – large Republican donors who are eager to have another face represent them in the U.S. Senate.
In fact, the "civic engagement" that Cascos mentions refers to that very thing. Sources close to Cascos say that he has been encouraged to make a run for the U.S. Senate against Ted Cruz, the Tea Party's poster child whose vinegary personality has soured many of the GOP faithful.
"Carlos has been across the state at least three times," said a legislative staffer in Austin. "He is well liked and many see him as an alternative to Cruz who they think is unnecessarily abrasive, even to Republicans."
Cascos' resignation is effective January 3, 2017.
Among his achievements, Cascos pointed to the improved relationship with Mexico and its current compliance on the US-Mexico Water Treaty.
"When I took office our relationship with Mexico was fragile, and Mexico was not in compliance with the 1944 Water Treaty," he wrote. "As of today our relationship with Mexico is vastly improved and Mexico is now in compliance with the Treaty."
As for the border, he said that there are over 500 thousand people living in almost 2,300 colonias along the border, many without running water and wastewater lines and adequate infrastructure. "Texas should develop a 10 to 15 year plan which addresses these issues," he wrote. "Improving the living conditions in these neighborhoods isn't just good for their residents; it's good for Texas."
As for the coming challenges, Cascos said that the state "faces many challenges including but not limited to health care, infrastructure and public safety. I am confident Texas will address these challenges pragmatically."
Will he do so as a county judge, or as the next U.S. Senator from Texas?