He Said, She Said

This month, Republican Mayor Greg Ballard and his Democratic opponent, Melina Kennedy, will spell out their positions on every major issue facing the city. Loosening up never hurts anyone, so we posed a few personal questions instead. Surprisingly, they found some common ground.

Childhood pet?
Kennedy: Zeus, a German shepherd.
Ballard: A mutt named Frisky.

First job?
Kennedy: Food server at a nursing home. “I had to wear a hairnet.”
Ballard: Dishwasher at the Big Wheel on Shadeland Avenue.

IU or Purdue?
Kennedy: IU.
Ballard: IU.

Food trucks or farmers markets?
Kennedy: Farmers markets.
Ballard: Farmers markets.

North side or south side?
Kennedy: “I have a crush on Fountain Square right now.”
Ballard: “I can’t go there. You know that.”

Favorite place on the … east side?
Kennedy: The Legend Cafe.
Ballard: Tie Dye Grill.

… west side?
Kennedy: Eagle Creek Park.
Ballard: Charlie Brown’s in Speedway.

… south side?
Kennedy: iMOCA.
Ballard: Wanamaker.

… north side?
Kennedy: Monon Trail.
Ballard: My house.

Can you describe the first time you met your opponent?
Kennedy: I met him briefly at an Indy Reads function a couple of days after he was elected in 2007. He was saying that he knew all along that he would win the election. I didn’t know if he knew who I was.
Ballard: No. Not at all. I don’t remember.

Illustration by Andy Friedman

This article originally appeared in the October 2011 issue.