INDIANAPOLIS -- The election is still two years away, but the 2011 mayoral race is already in the sights of a prominent Indianapolis Democrat.

Melina Kennedy, 40, filed paperwork Friday to create an exploratory committee for a possible Indianapolis mayoral run.

Kennedy, a Democrat, said she thinks it's too early to think seriously about the run, but said campaign finance laws prompted the filing.

 

"I love the city. I want to move forward, and this gives me the opportunity to take the next step," she said. "I think people are really concerned about the economy and jobs. That's an area that I have great strength in."

Kennedy, who once served as deputy mayor under Bart Peterson, lost a fairly close race to Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi in 2006. She's currently a partner at Indianapolis law firm Baker & Daniels.

Several other Democrats and a few Republicans have expressed interest in taking on Mayor Greg Ballard, who replaced Peterson in somewhat of a surprise in 2007.