Buffalo's longest-serving mayor, Byron Brown, announced on Monday that he will be stepping down from his position in a few weeks to take on a new role as the president and chief executive of Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. Brown, a Democrat, has been the mayor of Buffalo for nearly two decades and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve the city.
At a news conference, Brown highlighted his decision to transition to a new role alongside his wife, Michelle. He will be receiving an annual salary of $295,000 in his new position, a significant increase from his current mayoral salary of $178,500.
As the head of Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp, Brown will be responsible for overseeing operations at various betting sites across multiple New York counties, including Batavia Downs, which offers live harness horse racing and a video game casino.
The decision to appoint Brown to this role was met with unanimous approval from the board members of Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. Board President Dennis Bassett expressed confidence in Brown's ability to elevate the agency's profile in Albany, leveraging his extensive experience as a former state senator and chairman of the New York Democratic Party.
Brown, who made history as Buffalo's first Black mayor in 2005, has been credited with leading the city through a period of growth and revitalization. Under his leadership, Buffalo experienced its first population increase in decades, with a 7% rise in population from 2010 to 2020, according to the U.S. Census.
Common Council President Christopher Scanlon will assume the role of acting mayor until the end of Brown's term, in accordance with the city charter. Scanlon, also a Democrat, expressed optimism about the future and pledged to continue serving the businesses and residents of Buffalo effectively.
