MONDAY, SEPT. 26, 2005

Kennedy leaves mayor's office,
a possible prelude to prosecutorial run
By Tracy Donhardt
IBJ Reporter

Democrat Melina Kennedy has stepped down as deputy mayor of Indianapolis, a move that may signal she's moving ahead with plans to run for Marion County prosecutor in 2006.

Kennedy, who couldn't be reached for comment, has been widely rumored to be considering a bid to replace Republican Carl Brizzi as Marion County prosecutor.

A spokesman for Mayor Bart Peterson would only say she left to pursue other interests.

Kennedy, 35, joined Mayor Bart Peterson's office in 2000 as assistant deputy mayor for policy development. In that post, she led the mayor's domestic violence roundtable and headed other domestic violence initiatives.

She then served as director of economic development, helping lead efforts to launch the BioCrossroads life-sciences initiative and boost the number of high-tech jobs in the city.

She became a deputy mayor in 2004, putting her in charge of the city's efforts to use economic development to improve neighborhoods. On a volunteer basis, she will continue to chair the city's code enforcement task force, which is working to clean up abandoned houses and prevent youth violence.

Kennedy, who earned her bachelor's, master's and law degrees from Indiana University, has served on the boards of the Julian Center, the Greater Indianapolis Domestic Violence Network and has chaired the Women and the Law Division of the Indianapolis Bar Association.

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