WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita television station says one of its reporters has been defamed by a county commissioner who refused to be interviewed by her because he believes she is an advocate for people living in the country illegally.

The Wichita Eagle reports Beatriz Parres is a bilingual television reporter who covers news for both Spanish-language KDCU and English-language KWCH. On Monday she approached Sedgwick County Commission chairman Richard Ranzau to ask him about a recall effort in which a pro-immigrant group and others want him removed from office.

Ranzau told her he wouldn’t talk to her but would allow a reporter who works only for KWCH to interview him.

KWCH news director Brian Gregory said Parres is a reporter and it is unfortunate an elected official would make such baseless comments.