Governor Greg Abbott has announced several staff changes within the Office of the Governor.
Gardner Pate has been hired as Deputy Chief of Staff. Pate was previously Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen’s Director of Policy and General Counsel. Prior to joining Speaker Bonnen, Pate was a partner at Locke Lord LLP before starting his own practice.
John Wittman has been promoted to Communications Director. Wittman has worked for Governor Abbott since 2014 and was most recently Press Secretary and Senior Communications Advisor within the Office of the Governor.
Brady Franks has been named Deputy Budget and Policy Director. He previously served in the Office of the Governor as a Budget and Policy Advisor focusing on higher education and public finance.
Sallie Armstrong Bentley joins Governor Abbott’s office as a Budget Advisor. Bentley was most recently Assistant Director of Finance in the Office of the Speaker.
Charlie Leal has re-joined the Governor’s Office as Budget and Policy Advisor for transportation issues. Leal was previously the Director of Commission Support at the Texas Department of Transportation.
Stephanie Greger has been hired as an attorney for criminal justice issues in the Office of the General Counsel. Greger brings nearly decade of prosecutorial experience to the Office of the Governor and most recently served in the Williamson County Attorney’s Office as its Criminal Division Chief.
The Governor also announced the departure of Deputy Policy Director John Hryhorchuck, who is leaving the Office of the Governor after four years to pursue an opportunity in the private sector.