Ohio woman claims firing for Obama vote

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — A southwest Ohio woman says she was fired three days after the presidential election because of her vote for President Barack Obama.

The woman has filed a lawsuit in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court seeking damages starting at $25,000 against Q-Mark Inc. and its president. The Dayton-based company is a manufacturers’ representative business and defense contractor.

The Dayton Daily News reports that Patricia Kunkle alleges that company president Roberta Gentile told employees last year that Obama supporters would be the first to be terminated if he got re-elected.

Kunkle had become a full-time employee of the company in May 2012 and says she never received any negative evaluations or disciplinary action.

The company says she was laid off for economic reasons and cited uncertainty over U.S. defense spending.