BROWNSVILLE, RGV – As expected, Pete Sepulveda, Jr., executive director of Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority, has been named interim county judge for Cameron County.
Sepulveda, who is also Cameron County Administrator, was the hot favorite to be named to the post provided outgoing County Judge Carlos Cascos had a vote on Cameron County Commissioners Court. Cascos did so this morning, just two days before he takes over as Texas Secretary of State.
The vote was 4-1 to with County Commissioner David Garza being the one “no” vote. Garza has felt that Sepulveda cannot comfortably handle all the administrative jobs before him and that there may even be a conflict of interest. County Commissioners Sofia Benavides, Dan Sanchez and Alex Dominguez voted with Cascos, who nominated Sepulveda.
Cascos agreed to relinquish his post as county judge after Gov. Greg Abbott selected him to be his Secretary of State. Cascos was confirmed for this post by the Texas Senate two weeks ago and will be sworn into office on Saturday.
Cascos was re-elected county judge for another four-year term last November. Sepulveda has been asked to fill in as county judge for two years. In 2016 voters will select another county judge two serve the remaining two years of Cascos’ term. Sepulveda has said he does not intend to run for county judge in 2016.
Sepulveda was born in Rio Grande City and earned a Bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance at Texas A&M University. He is a highly regarded administrator. Working for the City of Pharr he played a key role in getting all the permitting in place for the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge back in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The bridge recently celebrated its 20th year of operation.
In the mid-to-late 1990s, working this time for the City of Eagle Pass, Sepulveda played a key role in getting all the permits in place for the Eagle Pass-Piedras Negras Camino Real International Bridge. And, Sepulveda was international bridge system director for Cameron County when Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates opened in 1999.
Click here and here to read recent Rio Grande Guardian features on Sepulveda and his work as executive director of Cameron County RMA.
Rio Grande Guardian business reporter Joey Gomez has another feature on Sepulveda and his work with Cameron County RMA coming out later today. Check back later to read this.
