Former Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown on Wednesday attended his first Western Regional Off-Track Betting Committee meetings as the public benefit corporation’s new president and CEO.

And a lot of the questions surrounding his new job include who he is taking with him.

Former Buffalo First Deputy Mayor Steve Casey is already working at OTB part-time for $50,000 a year. Brown confirmed that Casey was hired prior to his own hiring and that he could potentially be up for a promotion.

He says he is also considering former city staff Mike DeGeorge and Bernadette Taylor for jobs. The board personnel committee was discussing a corporate restructure, which could create titles and vacancies for those individuals but Brown says nobody will be hired or promoted Wednesday.

Casey’s employment is the most controversial as his former political consulting firm pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud three years ago for essentially stealing money from a state Legislature candidate. 

“When you look at Steve Casey’s actual record, he has no record,” said Brown. “So there is no prohibition to him being able to work here. As I understand it, he was hired prior to me being hired. And he has a gaming license, which I understand he got prior to me getting one.”

Brown and OTB did offer copies of his contract to media Wednesday, which comes following criticism last month for not releasing it. Some highlights include a $295,000 base salary with potential $10,000 raises in year two and three, an $800/month car allowance and four months severance if he leaves.