Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Brandon Batch to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) for a term set to expire on January 31, 2021. TDHCA is responsible for promoting and preserving homeownership, financing the development of affordable rental housing, supporting community and energy assistance programs, and other functions. Brandon Batch of Midland is a business development manager for Ventura Management, LLC, where he works to acquire mineral and royalty interests. He previously served as partner and general manager for a restaurant he co-founded in Austin along with his brother. Having previously worked as a Congressional staff member, Batch is a former Foreign Policy Fellow with the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars. Batch received a degree in public relations from Texas Tech University.