Buffalo Mayor Offered Job As Chairman Of Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation

BATAVIA, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo’s longest-serving mayor, Byron Brown, was offered a job Thursday to lead the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp.

The public benefit corporation’s board of directors voted unanimously to offer Brown the position of president and CEO following a closed-door meeting at Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel.

Brown, a Democrat, began his fifth four-year term as mayor in 2022. He did not run at the OTB gambling site after the council voted.

In a statement, Brown said a contract and salary must be negotiated before he accepts the position.

“The Western New York Off Track Betting Corporation Board of Directors voted unanimously today to offer me the position of President and CEO,” he said. “I look forward to meeting with the Chairman of the Board to begin the process of final approval of a contract. In the meantime, I will continue to serve as Mayor.”

If he accepts the job, Brown would succeed Henry Wojtaszek as CEO of the organization, which oversees the Batavia Downs racetrack and casino as well as off-track betting sites in several counties. Wojtaszek took over as CEO in 2016 and is expected to step down at the end of the year.

Under the city charter, if Brown leaves office before the end of his term, Common Council President Christopher Scanlon, also a Democrat, would be able to serve as acting mayor.