BATAVIA – Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown was picked on Thursday to lead Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp., setting in motion an end to the longest-running mayoral administration in the city’s history.

The WROTB board, which went to elaborate lengths to keep secret Brown’s candidacy for president and chief executive officer, selected the Democratic mayor over two other finalists following a more than five-hour closed-to-the-public executive session at Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel.

In a statement emailed late Thursday, Brown said he appreciated “the vote of confidence in me and my record of success as Mayor of Buffalo.”

“At this point, a contract still needs to be negotiated before the position is accepted. I look forward to meeting with the chairman of the board to start the process toward final approval of a contract,” he said. “In the meantime, I will continue to serve in my capacity as Mayor.”