Buffalo Mayor Steps Down from Politics to Lead Betting Agency

Byron Brown, the longest-serving mayor in Buffalo history, has announced that he will be leaving the City Hall to lead an offtrack betting agency. While he loved his job as a mayor, Brown believes that it was finally time to move on.

Goodbye Politics, Hello Betting

On Monday, the mayor confirmed that he will be stepping down as mayor in a few weeks. He thanked the people of Buffalo for their unwavering support and said that he loved serving them. However, he added that he and his wife thought it was finally time to transition to a new role.

Now 66, Brown will be joining Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp as its new president and chief executive officer. In that position, the Democrat will have an annual salary of $295,000. This figure would mark a significant increase from his current salary, which stands at $178,500 a year.

For context, Brown became Buffalo’s first black mayor in 2005 and, after getting reelected to a fifth term in 2021, also became the city’s longest-serving mayor. The Democrat is beloved by the locals and has played a key role in the development of the area and the reversal of its population decline.

Brown’s term was officially set to end on December 31.

Brown Will Raise the Betting Corp’s Profile

In the meantime, the board of directors of Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp approved Brown’s contract, greenlighting his appointment as president and CEO. His appointment is expected to significantly bolster the agency’s profile.

Board president Dennis Bassett praised Brown’s achievements, welcoming the man to the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp family.

We think the relationship that Mayor Brown has developed over the years and his time as a legislator and his relationships in Albany and in the governor’s office will help us to move forward with some of the things that we would like to do.

Dennis Bassett, board president, Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp

Brown, meanwhile, said that he is happy to have championed diversity and sustainability during his time as mayor. He will be succeeded by Common Council President Christopher Scanlon who will become acting mayor at the end of Brown’s term. The latter said that he is confident that the city will be able to continue delivering on its initiatives, generating value for the locals and local businesses.