Cameron County judge ends term as chairman of border coalition

Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. is seen during a press conference on March 29, 2021. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)

SAN ANTONIO — Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño’s work as chairman of the Texas Border Coalition Chairman was recognized Tuesday after the conclusion of his term, which began in 2019.

Treviño was succeeded as chair by El Paso County Commissioner David Stout, who complimented his predecessor on his service in a release.

“We want to express our sincere thanks to our outgoing chairman Judge Treviño for his exceptional leadership and service to the coalition,” Stout wrote. “Judge Treviño’s tenacity has elevated TBC’s profile across Texas and nationally, and because of his hard work, we have made a greater impact on those who live, work, and raise their families along the border.”

Founded 24 years ago, the Texas Border Coalition serves as a collective voice of border mayors, economic development entities and county officials focused on the issues that affect the near 2.7 million people residing along the Texas Mexico border, often in economically disadvantaged counties.

The coalition works with the state and federal government to educate, advocate and secure funding for things like transportation, immigration, border security, workforce development, economic development and health care.

Trevño remains on the coalition’s executive committee, along with a group that includes several Rio Grande Valley officials.

“Together, they will continue shaping the organization’s public policy priorities and bring attention to the education and workforce, health care, border security, economic development and transportation needs of communities along the border,” the release said of the group’s new leadership.

During Treviño’s time as chairman he used the position to call on the federal government to intervene on the border and advocated for efficiency regarding state immigration enforcement efforts.

“The most important lesson of TBC’s work over the decades is that border communities can achieve results when we lead by consensus, speaking as a collective voice of border elected officials, business and community leaders for the 2.5 million people living in the Texas border region,” Treviño wrote in a message attached to his chairman’s bio. “When we stand together on priority issues that affect border communities, state and federal officials pay attention. Our most important asset is our unity.”