Akron (Ohio). Mayor (1966-1979 : Ballard)

John S. Ballard served as Mayor of the City of Akron from 1966 to 1979. He was born in Akron, Ohio on September 30, 1922 and graduated from the University of Akron in 1943. Ballard received a law degree from the University of Michigan in 1948 and went on to serve as a special agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation until 1952. He returned to Akron to open a private law practice. Soon he reentered public service and became the Assistant City Law Director. In 1955, he ran for the office of Summit County Prosecuting Attorney and became the first Republican elected to that position in twenty years. He served in that capacity until 1964 when he resigned in order to pursue his private law practice. The following year he was enlisted by the Republican Party to be their candidate for Mayor of the City of Akron. His candidacy was successful, and he was elected mayor by more than 20,000 votes, in spite of the fact that the city has a greater than two to one majority of Democrat Party members. John Ballard was reelected in 1967, 1971, and 1975 to become up to that point the city's longest serving mayor. During those fourteen years, he had to contend with the problems and turmoil which befell all the nation's cities. Specifically, Akron was plagued with intercity decay, loss of industry to the sun-belt, increases in unemployment, migration of residents to the suburbs and decreases in tax revenues while financial obligations increased. The fact that he remained mayor longer than anyone else up to that time, and during a period of such major social changes, provides an indication to his dedication and determination. He was a strong supporter of urban renewal and saw it as the key to the revitalization of the downtown area. Such projects as the Superblock Developments, Cascade Plaza and Opportunity Park were developed and implemented during his administration. However, in spite of his enthusiasm for downtown development, Mayor Ballard encountered many frustrations. At times he was disappointed in what he referred to as the "glacial progress" of urban renewal projects. Moreover, the trend toward suburban shopping malls, which severely hurt the downtown's retail business, was particularly disheartening. Yet, the city has retained a large base of professional workers in the downtown area, and in recent years the retail trade has stabilized and in some respects improved.

From the description of City of Akron, Office of the Mayor, John S. Ballard records, 1966-1979. (University of Akron). WorldCat record id: 476227351

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