A spokesman for Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership candidate Monte McNaughton says a staffer has been arrested for allegedly threatening messages sent to a rival's campaign.

A woman was arrested last week after Tory MPP Christine Elliott's campaign said they received a series of threatening text messages.

McNaughton spokesman Joshua Workman would not name the woman but says she was both a part-time administrative worker on contract in his legislative office and a volunteer on his leadership campaign.

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Workman says McNaughton took immediate steps to suspend her, which led to her security privileges at the legislature being revoked.

Elliott, McNaughton and federal Conservative MP Patrick Brown are vying to replace Tim Hudak, who resigned last year.