MARCH 4, 2025|
Photo – Example of a Wyoming public notice – Courtesy wyopublicnotice.com
The Carbon County Republican Patry has chosen not to advertise with the Saratoga Sun in the future, saying that the publication is engaging in “lawfare against Carbon County and the taxpaying citizens.”
On Sunday, March 2nd, the Carbon County Republican Party announced that it will no longer utilize, or remit any funds to, the Saratoga Sun.
Republican Party Vice Chairman Joey Correnti IV told Bigfoot99 the Party created a standing rule to no longer use the Saratoga-based newspaper or its parent company, Stevenson Newspapers, for any official notices.
Correnti explained that the standing rule stemmed from the recent selection by Board of Carbon County Commissioners to have the Carbon County Comet serve as the county’s official publication for 2025.
Correnti said, in his opinion, officials with the Saratoga newspaper, specifically Joshua Wood, are suing the people of Carbon County because the publication was unhappy about losing the contract to publish legal notices paid by the county treasurer using tax revenues.
Wyoming state law 18-3-519 requires that all legal notices be published in a newspaper that has printed at least one edition every week for a year and has a minimum circulation of five hundred paid customers. The Carbon County Comet, Rawlins Times, and Saratoga Sun all submitted sealed bids to fulfill the county’s legal obligation to publish notices in a physical newspaper.
During the board of commissioners meeting on December 3 last year, Wood, the Saratoga newspaper’s director, argued that his business rival does not meet the legal requirements to become the county’s official newspaper because most copies of the Comet are available without charge.
Citing the Wyoming Press Association, of which he is the president, Wood said the Comet should be considered a free publication and, therefore, ineligible to serve as the county’s official newspaper.
Wood then offered to lower his publication’s advertising rates below his initial bid price. Frustrated county commissioners then asked for another round of sealed bids from all three publications before selecting an official newspaper.
In the second round of bids, the Carbon County Comet undercut the Saratoga Sun by 10 cents a column-inch. Commissioners selected the Comet as the county’s official publication without taking additional comment.
On February 10, the Saratoga Sun filed a petition against Carbon County officials, claiming that the Comet is a free newspaper and, therefore, should not, or cannot, serve as the county’s official publication. The matter is pending before the Carbon County District Court.
The lawsuit against the county prompted the Carbon County Republican Party to create a standing rule not to advertise with the Saratoga Sun.
Vice Chairman Correnti said he isn’t just opposed to posting notices in the Saratoga newspaper. Correnti said the state should not be spending taxpayer money on any newspaper advertising. Instead, the information should be stored on a centralized online database.
Correnti said relying on physical newspaper publications makes it difficult to research past notices. In his opinion, Correnti said newspapers should provide legal notices for free.
Wyoming state law 18-3-519 also requires major political parties, such as the Carbon County Republican Party, to advertise certain meetings and events in a legal publication. Speaking at the March 1st Republican Party meeting, Vice Chairman Correnti said lawmakers are attempting to repeal the statute. In the meantime, Correnti said the Republican Party is still legally required to advertise in a newspaper. However, the Party will no longer do so in the Saratoga Sun.
Correnti said money is tight for everyone, including local governments. With its lawsuit, Correnti said the Saratoga Sun is “wasting” money the county could use on other services.
Correnti said lawmakers are advocating for a single statewide database where all legal notices can be published for free. The Republican Party Vice Chairman said a digital repository will save the state millions of dollars in advertising fees.
Radio stations are not eligible under the 19th century law that mandates local governments publish legal notices in newspapers.
