Border Security Council Report - Office of the Governor - Rick Perry

Section Two: Border Security Council Charges and Members
The Border Security Council was created in Senate Bill 11 of the 80th Legislative Session to advise the
Governor on the allocation of state homeland security funds.
The mission of the Border Security Council is to aid the Governor in strengthening the security of the Texas/
Mexico border. The Council is charged with the following:
1) Recommending performance standards, reporting requirements, audit methods and other procedures
for homeland security funding allocation and use; and
2) Advising Governor Rick Perry on the allocation of the funds.
In order to accomplish this mission, the Council has conducted a series of five public hearings along the
border to receive input from members of the public regarding their security concerns and needs. The
Council also held three open meetings in Austin, TX to discuss the various performance standards to be
adopted, as well as to determine how discretionary state homeland security funds should be allocated.
Members of the Border Security Council:
Carlos Cascos, Chair, County Judge, Cameron County
Carlos Cascos is a certified public accountant (CPA) and partner in the accounting firm of Pattillo Brown
and Hill L.L.P. Mr. Cascos previously served as Cameron County commissioner and is a past member of the
Texas Department of Public Safety Commission. He is a member of the Texas Society of CPAs, the American
Institute of CPAs, and the Association of Government Accountants. Mr. Cascos received his bachelor’s
degree from The University of Texas at Austin.
Robert Holt, Vice Chair, Former Chairman, Texas Department of Public Safety
Robert Braxton Holt is an independent rancher and oil producer. He is a past chairman and board member
of the Texas Department of Public Safety Commission and past member of the Governor’s Energy Council.
Mr. Holt formerly served as a city council member and mayor pro-tempore for the City of Midland. He
is a board member of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin Development Board, the Midland
College Financial Command, and the United Way of Midland. Additionally, he is a founding member of the
Bush Library Foundation at Texas A&M University and member of the Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers
Association.
Phil Wilson, Former Secretary of State and Border Commerce Coordinator
Phil Wilson is the Senior Vice President for Luminant. He served on the Council as the 106th Texas Secretary
of State. He served as the Texas Border Commerce Coordinator and was the Governor’s designee to the
Texas Enterprise Fund and the Emerging Technology Fund. Mr. Wilson formerly served as deputy chief of
staff and director of communications for Governor Perry, and state director for U.S. Senator Phil Gramm.
He received a bachelor’s degree from Hardin Simmons University and a Master of Business Administration
degree from Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business.
Val Beard, County Judge, Brewster County
Val Clark Beard serves as Brewster County Judge and formerly served as Brewster County Attorney. She is
past president of the Rio Grande Council of Governments and volunteers as an advisory board member of the
Rio Grande Electric Coop. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the County Judges and Commissioners
Association, and the Trans-Pecos Bar Association. Judge Beard received a bachelor’s and law degree from
The University of Texas at Austin.
Section Two: Border Security Council Charges and Members