The South Florida man fighting to bring satanic prayer to Lake County Commission meetings has sent the county a notice of intent to sue for the chance to give the invocation, and said he is even prepared to move to Lake County to see it happen.

Chaz Stevens made headlines in 2013 when he displayed a Festivus pole made out of empty Pabst Blue Ribbon beer cans at the Florida Capitol next to the traditional Christmas Nativity scene. The Festivus pole is a nonreligious holiday tradition inspired by an episode of "Seinfeld."

Now, Stevens is making headlines again with his "Satan or Silence" movement, in which he has tried to persuade local governments to stop beginning meetings with a prayer and instead hold a moment of silence.

So far, both Stevens and Lake County Commission Chairman Jimmy Conner, who wants to continue the traditional prayer and not allow Stevens to say a satanic prayer in its place, have been very determined not to let the other side win.


Chaz Stevens next to his Festivus pole, made entirely out of empty Pabst Blue Ribbon beer cans, installed in the Florida Capitol rotunda in 2013. (AP Photo, File)

"What does it mean to have prayer? What does it mean to have freedom of religion — true freedom of religion?" said Stevens, a self-described atheist who has asked for permission several times to hold a satanic prayer at local government meetings across Florida, most recently in Lake County. "This is flat out an argument about religious freedom."

Stevens said he ultimately wants prayers at public meetings to be replaced with moments of silence.

So, why is he pushing so hard for satanic prayer?

"In order to get this topic on the table, I had to choose something that was going to get eyebrows raised," Stevens admitted.

Conner said he didn't want this fight, and Stevens' request to pray will not happen.

"God did not put me on the planet to make Chaz Stevens happy," Conner said.

The commission chair said he called Liberty Council, which has offered to represent the Board of County Commissioners for free.

"We're not going to turn the County Commission chambers over for satanic prayer," Conner said, adding he is very confident Stevens' request does not meet the legal requirements, and Lake County has never allowed a non-county resident to give an invocation before a commission meeting.

Stevens said he's not only thinking about moving to Lake County, but he's also considering running for Conner's commission seat.

Stevens claimed he has been able to change the way other cities and local governments conduct prayers before meetings.

City clerks in Coral Springs said they now hold a moment of silence instead of a prayer before their meetings, because of Stevens' request to that city.

An earlier version of this story stating Chaz Stevens has filed the lawsuit has been updated to clarify Stevens had only sent a notice of intent to sue the county as of Friday afternoon.