MEDIA CONACT: Katie Lineweaver, (317) 313-6721

Thursday, September 24, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS -- Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 120 (Indianapolis) today endorsed former Indianapolis Deputy Mayor Melina Kennedy's bid for mayor of Indianapolis. Laborers Business Manager David Frye cited Kennedy's experience as a proven job-creator as a  key factor behind  the union's endorsement.

"As a deputy mayor, Melina was very successful in her fight to bring new jobs to Indianapolis," Frye said. "Melina's experience creating jobs, her passion for the future of working families and her vision to get this city moving forward again is the kind of leadership our city  needs."

Kennedy thanked Frye, and praised LIUNA's dedication and invaluable work on behalf of  Indianapolis.

"The Laborers' commitment to Indianapolis, and its future, is inspiring. Quite literally, they have built this city," Kennedy said.

Currently an enviromnmental attornery at the Indianapolis law firm Baker & Daniels LLP, Melina Kennedy previously served as Deputy Mayor for Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, counseling the Mayor on a variety of issues relating to municipal government and economic development. Melina helped lead efforts to attract the Conrad Hotel to the city, keep Simon Property Group from leaving its downtown headquarters and find a company to fill the void left when United Airlines closed its maintenance hub at the airport. She also helped launch various workforce development, community development and neighborhood development initiatives on behalf of the City of Indianapolis.