John Kane Ditto
Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi
In office
July 3, 1989 – July 7, 1997
Preceded byDale Danks
Succeeded byHarvey Johnson Jr.
Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
from the 66th district
In office
January 5, 1988 – July 3, 1989
Preceded byRon Aldridge
Succeeded byMike Gunn
Personal details
Born
John Kane Ditto

(1944-05-18) May 18, 1944 (age 79)
Bowling Green, Kentucky, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic

John Kane Ditto (born May 18, 1944) is an American politician and formerly the mayor of Jackson, Mississippi. He was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky.[1]

Ditto, a Democrat, served as Mayor of the City of Jackson from July 3, 1989[2] until July 1997. Ditto was previously elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives from District 66, where he served from 1987 to 1989.[3] Before entering the political arena, Ditto practiced law for 18 years with Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis in Jackson. For five years he was managing partner of the firm. As a practicing attorney, his practice developed a heavy emphasis in municipal finance.

Ditto proposed a new African studies institute that would foster trade and academic exchange with the continent.[4] Ditto pushed minority-owned and small business venture financing investigations and efforts to expand medical and data-processing facilities near downtown. He wanted a spacious convention center downtown and the re-opening of Lake Hico to citizens for recreation.[5]

On May 25, 2012, he participated in a focus group as part of the needs assessment process of the Restorative Care Hospital and the Mississippi Baptist Medical Center by meeting with other community leaders who had direct knowledge of the health service needs of disadvantaged populations in the Jackson metropolitan area.[6]

Personal life

Ditto is married to Betsy Ditto.[7][8] The couple have four children, including Raymond Ditto, President and CEO of Ditto Residential,[9][10][11] an award-winning development firm based in Washington, DC.[12] They have nine grandchildren.[13] Ditto attended Duke University for undergraduate studies and received a Juris Doctor degree from Vanderbilt University.[14]

References

  1. ^ Who, Marquis Who's (December 1998). Who's Who in the South and Southwest. ISBN 9780837908298.
  2. ^ "3 Jul 1989, Page 1 - Clarion-Ledger at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  3. ^ Bowers, James R.; Rich, Wilbur C. (2000). Governing Middle-sized Cities: Studies in Mayoral Leadership. Lynne Rienner Publishers. ISBN 978-1-55587-870-2.
  4. ^ Aden, Marky. (6 February 1989) "Ditto Proposes African-style Bazaar, River Resort". Clarion Ledger. (Jackson)
  5. ^ Rejebian, Michael (4 October 1989) "Jackson Mayor outlines Development Plan" Clarion Ledger. (Jackson)
  6. ^ Mississippi Baptist Health Systems. (2012) Community Needs Assessment: Hinds, Rankin, and Madison Counties Mississippi. p.32. Retrieved 14 March 2014. https://www.mbhs.org/media/264970/baptist-community-health-needs-assessment-report.pdf
  7. ^ "J. KANE DITTO". statestreetgroup. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  8. ^ Wiggins, Azia. "Mississippi Museum of Art Develops The Gallery Garden". www.jacksonfreepress.com. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  9. ^ "Inside Homes: When Home and Lifestyle Align – Washington Life Magazine". Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  10. ^ "There's an Incredibly Modern Home Hidden Behind a Historic Facade | Washingtonian (DC)". Washingtonian. 2015-12-09. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  11. ^ "Condos offer a touch of contemporary on historic Capitol Hill". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  12. ^ "Episode 04: OSLOadmo with Martin Ditto". American Building. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  13. ^ "J. KANE DITTO". statestreetgroup. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  14. ^ "Board of Advisors". 2cmississippi. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
Preceded byDale Danks Mayor of Jackson, MS 1989–1997 Succeeded byHarvey Johnson, Jr.
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