Is Traci Kennedy a Sutton Splitter

Finally some info on the Independent candidate running in the 13th District race.  Seems she's a Republican who has entered the race to take votes away from Sutton - and according to the Akron Beacon Journal, it's not the first time...

But in the 13th District, Republicans helped one of their own -- Akron attorney Traci Kennedy -- file petitions to run as an independent in the district, which includes parts of Summit, Cuyahoga, Lorain and Medina counties.

There's no incumbent in that race because Rep. Sherrod Brown, D-Avon, is leaving his seat to run for the U.S. Senate.

Because Kennedy is a black female, she may draw enough women and African-Americans away from Democrat Betty Sutton to enhance the chances of Republican Craig Foltin, the mayor of Lorain.

It's not the first time local Republicans have used Kennedy as a splitter. Republicans circulated the petitions that put her in the November 2005 race for Akron clerk of courts against Republican incumbent Jim Laria and Democratic challenger Joyce Sawyer.