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Ohio woman claims in lawsuit she was fired for voting for Obama

Voter suppression may have taken a turn for the worse in Ohio.
U.S. President Barack Obama celebrates on stage as confetti falls after his victory speech during his election rally in Chicago, November 6, 2012. (Photo by REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)
U.S. President Barack Obama celebrates on stage as confetti falls after his victory speech during his election rally in Chicago, November 6, 2012.

Voter suppression may have taken a turn for the worse in Ohio.

Patricia Kunkle of Kettering says she was fired from her job at Q-Mark, Inc three days after the November election because she voted for President Barack Obama.

Kunkle has filed suit in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court seeking damages starting at $25,000. She alleges that company President Roberta “Bobbie” Gentile told employees last year that Obama supporters would be the first to be terminated if the president was re-elected.

“Whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican, taking it to the extreme of impairing somebody’s career because they disagree with your political choices is just wrong,” said Kunkle’s attorney, Karen Dunlevey. “We’re hoping that the court will recognize that and adopt a public policy exception for her.”

Dunlevey said she usually represents employers in employment litigation, but made an exception for this case because Kunkle's termination may have been politically motivated.

The Dayton-based company, a sales firm that represents manufacturers and defense contractors, says Kunkle was laid off for economic reasons and cited uncertainty over U.S. defense spending.