OTB contract for Byron Brown approved, would step down as mayor

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Western Regional Off-Track Betting has approved a contract with Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown for him to become the organization's next president and CEO. He would step down as Buffalo's mayor in order to take the job.

Members voted to offer Brown the position earlier this month. Since then, Brown has been undergoing negotiations with WROTB Chairman Dennis Bassett. It is unclear when he will officially step down to take the job. Brown was not in attendance at Thursday's meeting.

Brown, 66, is the longest-serving mayor in the City of Buffalo's history. First taking office in January 2006, he will step down in the midst of his fifth term. He will succeed current WROTB President Henry Wojtaszek, who recently accepted a six-figure buyout from the board and will retire on Dec. 31. To officially accept the job, he needs to obtain a gaming license through New York State. Bassett said Thursday that they are hoping the process can be sped up and are hopeful Brown can obtain the license as early as next week. Once that happens, Brown is expected to sign the contract. Bassett said Thursday that he is hopeful Brown will be at the table by the executive board's next meeting on Oct. 23.

The contract is on an annual basis for $295,000, with incentives for a second and third year. It's a sizable raise for Brown, who made $157,893 as Buffalo's mayor in 2023, according to SeeThroughNY.

Bassett said that Brown was identified as a candidate due to his connections in Albany and they hope he will be able to get some things done that they have not been able to get done.

"His relationships in Albany and in the governor's office will help us move forward with some of the things that we'd like to do," Bassett said. "We can't continue to do the things we've been doing without some support. As we look at sports betting, as we look at expansion of the hotel, as we look at some of the things that I think are going to be important for us to have a sustainable growth."

This puts Buffalo Common Council president Chris Scanlon in line to take the job in the mayor's office. He has served as common council president since earlier this year.

Scanlon was voted as Common Council president by his colleagues in January and represents the South District, which encompasses the South Park, Hopkins-Tifft and Seneca-Cazenovia neighborhoods in South Buffalo. He has been a member of the Common Council since 2012.

"What Byron Brown expressed to us," Bassett said, "Is he's taking over a position now and he's managing a corporate entity. And he's looking to make sure that we run this organization in a corporate way and not a political way."

This is a developing story, check back for updates.