ALBANY - Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. announced Thursday that Henry Wojtaszek, a former Niagara County GOP chairman, will become the agency's new president and CEO.
Wojtaszek, who has been around western New York political circles since he ran for Congress in 2002, will succeed current president Michael D. Kane, who is retiring.
Western OTB operates in 15 counties and two cities, Buffalo and Rochester, and owns the Batavia Downs Racing, the racino and oldest nighttime harness track in the country.
Kane has been at Western OTB for 20 years and served as its president for the last six. Wojtaszek has been OTB's general counsel and before that was a lawyer at Harris Beach, the politically connected Rochester-area law firm.
“I’ve had the opportunity to work for an amazing organization that had a vision for Western Region OTB, and had the strength and fortitude to see that vision through,” Kane said. “We’ve seen unprecedented growth in recent years, and I am very pleased with the direction of Western Region Off-Track Betting Corp.”
Western OTB struggled for years as part of the national decline in interest in horse racing, but the public-benefit corporation has improved in recent years due to the success of Batavia Downs, which has posted strong revenue gains and underwent major renovations.
Western OTB's success is important to the counties and cities in which it operates. It shares profits with the local governments, helping the municipalities pay for programs and services.
It has 27 branches across western New York.
“It truly is an honor to replace Mike Kane, someone who has done so much for this organization and for this community,” Wojtaszek said in a statement. “I’m very excited at the opportunity to work with all of the excellent employees at WROTB to make this organization even stronger.”
Other changes made to the OTB's corporate structure include Michael P. Nolan, currently executive vice president, serving as chief operation officer. Scott Kiedrowski, currently chief of staff for state Sen. Robert Ortt, will be come OTB's vice president of operations.
JSpector@Gannett.com
Joseph Spector is chief of Gannett's Albany Bureau. 
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