Governor Greg Abbott has reappointed Kenny Marchant and Ajay Thomas to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Their new terms will expire on January 31, 2031.
Kenny Marchant, from Coppell, previously served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for Texas’ 24th District from 2005 to 2021. He also held positions in the Texas House of Representatives between 1987 and 2005, and was a City Councilman and Mayor of Carrollton, Texas. Marchant’s professional background includes work as a real estate developer and homebuilder. He is currently on the Board of Trustees at Southern Nazarene University (SNU) and participates in the Former Members of Congress Study Group. Marchant holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and an honorary doctorate of letters from SNU.
Ajay Thomas, based in Austin, serves as senior managing director and head of public finance at FHN Financial, part of First Horizon Bank. He sits on the Board of Trustees at Southwestern University (SU) and is an advisory board member at the Taubman Center for State and Local Government at Harvard Kennedy School (HKS). Thomas previously served on the board for the Texas Business Leadership Council. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from SU, a Master of Public Policy from HKS, and a Juris Doctor from The University of Texas School of Law.
The Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott is responsible for leading the executive branch in state government, focusing on areas such as economic development, education enhancement, job creation, individual liberties protection, parental empowerment in schooling, and border security efforts. More information about these initiatives can be found on the official website. The office maintains its primary location in Austin at the State Insurance Building.
