Froehlich hit with suit over dismissal

State Rep. Paul Froehlich of Schaumburg was sued in U.S. District Court Thursday by a former employee who claims she was fired for being a Republican after he became a Democrat.

According to the suit, Judy McCurdy of Prospect Heights, "an avid member of the Republican Party," was hired by Froehlich as a district office director, an administrative and not a policy-making position, in December 2006. Froehlich switched party affiliation in 2007 and won re-election as a Democrat in November 2008. Three days after the election, according to the suit, Froehlich fired her, saying he couldn't trust her, but that "I won't say anything bad about you if you don't say anything bad about me."

The suit claims McCurdy's First Amendment rights and right to choose her own political affiliation were violated. It seeks compensatory and punitive damages and attorney fees.

Froehlich is not seeking re-election.

The suit was filed by the law office of Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica, a Riverside Republican.