The Pinal County supervisor serving Maricopa in District 1 filed a $456,000 claim against the county and calls for the ousting of appointed County Recorder Dana Lewis.

Coolidge Republican Kevin Cavanaugh charges Lewis with defamation, claiming an anonymous source in the elections office said Lewis plays “white noise” in her office because she believes Cavanaugh is “tapping” her conversations.

Cavanaugh claims Lewis published false and defamatory information suggesting he engaged in a federal crime. What information has been published was not specified in Cavanaugh’s complaint.

A candidate for Pinal County sheriff, Cavanaugh seeks damages for “reputational harm and impact to future employment.”

Cavanaugh claims Lewis, as the county’s elections director, should be removed because she is biased against him.

Lewis is running for her first full term as county recorder and elections director in the Nov. 5 general election.

“No reasonable person can believe that Dana Lewis will act without bias in administering an election where the claimant is on the ballot,” Cavanaugh’s complaint states.

Cavanaugh was unavailable today to further discuss his complaint.

Lewis issued a statement to InMaricopa this morning addressing the allegations:

“I can confirm I was served with a notice of claim on behalf of claimant Kevin Cavanaugh. Because this is a legal matter, I am unable to comment other than to say that I am confident that should the claimant move forward, the citizens of Pinal County will find that the trust I have worked hard to earn, and maintain, is well placed. I am certain that the execution of my duties as Pinal County recorder and elections director meet the ethical expectation of our citizens.”

County spokesperson James Daniel released a statement on behalf of the county:

“Pinal County is following its normal process of directing claims such as this to their carrier for assessment and handling. Although this claim was filed by a sitting supervisor, that fact should not create the assumption that the allegations are accurate, valid or correct. That will be for the carrier to assess as those allegations are reviewed.”

The insurance carrier is the Arizona Counties Insurance Pool.