DAYTON, Ohio (February 20, 2013)—Patricia Kunkle says she was fired from the Dayton, Ohio-based company where she worked three days after the November election because she voted 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 company is a sales firm representing manufacturers and defense contractors.

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.

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

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