Melina Kennedy
Age: 42
Incumbent: No
Occupation: Kennedy served as deputy mayor for economic development under Bart Peterson. She is also co-owner of The Running Company, which has stores in Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers and Greenwood.
Key Issues
Crime:
Kennedy believes there is a connection between crime and education. She is committed to early education because she believes it makes the difference in more kids graduating and will have an effect on crime. Additionally, Kennedy says having a law enforcement public safety strategy that centers around community policing is key to making sure the city is addressing crime in the long term as well as the short term.
Education:
Kennedy believes the city should focus more on early childhood education, and should invest funds from the sale of the water company to support and expand existing programs.
Jobs:
Kennedy said she would draw upon her experience as deputy mayor in charge of economic development and as owner of a small family business. Her plan to create jobs in Indianapolis include promoting job creation by reducing barriers and burdens; promoting growth of local small business through strategic use of city resources; improving leadership on local workforce development; and fostering and supporting local entrepreneurs.
Greg Ballard
Age: 57
Incumbent: Yes
Occupation: Prior to becoming mayor of Indianapolis, Ballard served 23 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and retired as a lieutenant colonel. He was also a management consultant and taught economics at Indiana Business College.
Key Issues
Crime:
Ballard believes that public safety is the top job for a mayor and is the reason he took back control and accountability of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. He says the best for the city in the long term to reduce crime is retraining officers.
Education:
Ballard said if he’s re-elected, he plans to request that his office replace the state as the monitor of the four IPS schools assigned to turnaround operators earlier this year. The mayor’s office currently oversees 23 charter schools and Ballard has proposed a five-point plan to add 20 more over the next five years.
Jobs:
Ballard wants to strengthen development in the city by continuing to regulate public dollars and incentives to attract private investment. Ballard has said that during his term as mayor he has created 8,700 jobs that have added $934 million to the economy.
Chris
Bowen
Age: N/A
Incumbent: No
Occupation: Served in the U.S. Army for three years in Bad Kreuznach Germany. Bowen also ran for Lawrence Township Trustee in 2010.
Key Issues
Crime:
Bowen says he will not tolerate intrusions of the rights of citizens such as entering the homes of citizens illegally. He added that he will work with the prosecutor’ office to continue using any available laws to pursue violent gang activity as acts of domestic terrorism.
Education:
Bowen believes that charter schools are the perfect answer to failing school systems. He said that allowing parents to choose a school for their child makes a huge difference in the involvement of students’ education because it fosters a partnership between the school and the family.
Jobs:
Quality schools and safe streets will bring jobs to Indianapolis Bowen says. He would also like to make it easier for entrepreneurs to open small businesses by, “easing the red tape.”
