DAYTON — Lori Turner, wife of U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, withdrew her marketing firm from a regional branding campaign sponsored by the Dayton Development Coalition on Tuesday, Feb. 19, saying articles in the Dayton Daily News about her $300,000-plus no-bid contract have caused a "distraction" that is harming the campaign.

"During the past several weeks, the Dayton Daily News has knowingly and publicly misrepresented my involvement in the Dayton Development Coalition community branding process," she wrote to the co-chairs of the branding effort, Daily News Publisher Doug Franklin and retired Berry Co. Chairman Pete Luongo.

She did not explain how the newspaper misrepresented her involvement. She did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Franklin said: "I think everybody involved has been well-intentioned to advance the Dayton region. And while everything was done aboveboard, I think people have to understand there was a perception — and I emphasize perception — of conflict."

Coalition officials have said they paid or committed more than $300,000 to Turner's firm, the Turner Effect, for its role in developing the $1.5 million campaign with the slogan, "Get Midwest." The firm was to receive more money in the second half of the campaign.

Lori Turner's letter seems to indicate she has not personally been paid for her firm's efforts. She wrote that she contributed $80,000 of her professional services to the campaign.

Asked about a replacement for the Turner Effect, Luongo said, "That's still up in the air."