Mayor Byron Brown says contract must be negotiated before accepting OTB position

BATAVIA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Longtime Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown appears to have found his post-political landing spot, though he says a contract must be negotiated first.

The board of the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation unanimously voted Thursday to offer Brown the position as their next CEO and President.

In a statement released Thursday night, Brown said a contract must be negotiated before the position is accepted.

“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 appreciate the vote of confidence in me and my record of success as Mayor of Buffalo …

I look forward to meeting with the Chairman of the Board to start the process toward final

approval of a contract. In the meantime, I will continue to serve in my capacity as Mayor.”

If Brown accepts the role, it is expected that he would step down as Buffalo mayor before the end of his term.

The offer was confirmed during a Thursday meeting of the WROTB’s Board of Directors at Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel in Batavia, in which officials said they were to discuss the vacant position.

Brown interviewed in person for about an hour and a half, WROTB’s Niagara board member Elliott Winter said. The OTB did not release the names of other candidates up for the job.

If Brown accepts the role, WROTB would like him to start as soon as possible, Winter said, adding that Brown would need to acquire a state gaming license before starting.

Brown is Buffalo’s longest-serving mayor after being elected to an unprecedented five terms. He was first sworn in on Jan. 1, 2006, succeeding Anthony Masiello after running on a platform that prioritized economic development.

Should Brown leave office before the end of his term, Buffalo Common Council President Chris Scanlon is in line to take over as acting mayor, according to the city’s charter.

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.

In a statement Friday, Scanlon said he’s spoken with Brown regarding the OTB offer and that he is “prepared to lead and serve the residents of the City of Buffalo as their mayor” should a vacancy open.

A general election will be held in November 2025 to determine who will serve the next four-year mayoral term.

“If he does choose to leave mayor early, it’ll be something that’s quite rare and obscure in the City of Buffalo — it’s never happened,” Councilmember Mitch Nowakowski said. “(Scanlon) has been here for a decade and knows city government. He understands the nuts and bolts. So I understand that he’ll move forward and will continue to make sure the City of Buffalo lives up to its highest potential.”

Fellow Councilmember Rashid Wyatt called the rumors swirling around Brown’s potential move a “distraction” but added the Common Council will continue to do what’s best for Buffalo no matter what unfolds.

“We must do what we must do to take care of the residents of the City of Buffalo and they should not be concerned to that extent,” Wyatt said.

WROTB, the biggest public gaming corporation in Western New York, has been searching for new leadership since it was announced this summer that current CEO and President Henry Wojtaszek will depart at the end of the year. The corporation oversees Batavia Downs racetrack and casino as well as off-track betting sites around the state. It serves 15 New York counties, stretching as far east as Oswego County.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

Adam Gorski is a Buffalo native who joined the WIVB News 4 team in 2022. You can find more of his work here .