Byron Brown in line to become new CEO at Western Regional OTB?

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A leadership change at Western Regional Off-Track Betting (OTB) is set to take place at the end of 2024 when president and CEO Henry Wojtaszek leaves his post after 15 years with the corporation.

As the OTB's Board of Directors works to interview candidates and finalize its choice to succeed Wojtaszek, one familiar name has surfaced as a potential replacement in consideration for the job: Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown.

While Brown has served as mayor of the City of Buffalo for most of 19 years, there has been plenty of speculation over the last couple of years that he is potentially looking to leave office early and explore other opportunities in the region. His fifth term as the Mayor of Buffalo officially ends in December 2025.

While Wojtaszek does not know whether or not Brown is among the candidates to take over his position, he says he is familiar with his accomplishments as Buffalo Mayor that makes him an ideal candidate.

"I think he's a good leader," said Wojtaszek with WBEN on Wednesday. "I think he has strong relationships throughout the state, so we'll see who the finalists are, and we'll see how that works out."

No matter how the rest of the search pans out for the OTB Board of Directors, Wojtaszek is looking forward to working with whoever is selected to take over his role, and ensure a nice, smooth transition for those with the OTB.

"I think the employees here have earned that right to expect a nice, peaceful transition, where they can continue to do the great work that they do. But this place, it's grown by leaps and bounds," Wjotaszek said. "I've been here 15 years, the last eight as CEO, and I couldn't be more proud of the work that they've done. I hear it on a daily basis when I'm on the floor, talking to our guests after the concerts, what a great experience they have here. And I firmly believe that that's going to continue here."

Ken Kruly of Politics and Stuff has also been hearing the recent rumblings surrounding Mayor Brown's potential departure from office to take the OTB position.

"The speculation seems to be very consistently pointing toward the mayor winding up in that position," said Kruly in an interview with WBEN. "But the OTB Board hasn't interviewed the finalists, and action has to be taken there. But the momentum certainly seems to be in making Mayor Brown the new CEO at OTB."

With the mayor about to finish his 19th year in office, Kruly is fully aware of Brown's desire to look or consider other positions of leadership in the area. He says the timing of the OTB position makes total sense.

"The OTB position, the appointment, will come through a political process. The Buff State University position, from what I understand, is on hold for, at least, another year or two now, and other positions really haven't fallen into place. So the OTB is sort of the process of elimination right now," Kruly explained.

Kruly says there are a couple of factors that makes the CEO job at OTB an attractive one for Mayor Brown.

"It's a lot less stress. Being mayor is a lot tougher job than running an agency with only 400 employees. The other reason is it pays substantially more than mayor," he said. "The incumbent is making about $120,000 more than the mayor makes right now. I don't know if that salary is going to stay in place for the new CEO at OTB or not, but money is certainly an issue here."

Should Brown leave office as mayor at any point going forward, the City Charter will put Common Council president Chris Scanlon in charge as his replacement for the remainder of his term through all of 2025.

"I assume he'll be a candidate for the election next year, but next year is the regular year for the mayoral campaign. So we'll be off to the races in 2025 a little bit early," Kruly added.

Kruly adds the date for any special election for mayor this year has passed, making Scanlon the mayor through 2025 until a new candidate is voted on in the general election.