JANUARY 14, 2025|
Photo – Seal of Carbon County – Bigfoot99 file photo
Only one person submitted their nomination to serve as the Carbon County Clerk following the resignation of Gwynn Bartlett.
The deadline to be considered for the elected position ended on Sunday. Carbon County Republican Party Chairman Paul Metevier said that only Interim County Clerk Lisa Smith submitted her application in time.
Bartlett, the former clerk, successfully ran for an open position on the Board of Carbon County Commissioners last year. Bartlett was required to resign her position as county clerk to assume the role of commissioner. After accepting Bartlett’s resignation, the commissioners voted to have Deputy County Clerk Lisa Smith serve as Interim Clerk until a replacement could be found.
The Carbon County Republican Party began soliciting nominations from party members interested in filling the vacant position. During the January 7th county commissioners meeting, Interim Clerk Lisa Smith presented a letter for the board’s approval, instructing the Republican Party to begin the nomination process.
A similar process occurred following Commissioner Byron Barkhurst’s resignation in October of 2023. The Carbon County Republican Party was tasked with selecting three nominees from eight applicants to present to the board. After several rounds of voting, party officials chose Saratoga rancher Emilee Berger, former Carbon County Republican Party Chairman Joey Correnti, and Elk Mountain firefighter Garrett Irene for the board’s consideration. Ultimately, county commissioners selected Garrett Irene to serve the remainder of Barkhurst’s term, which ended in January.
Commissioner Irene ran for election in November but was defeated by Bartlett.
The Republican Party began collecting county clerk applications in mid-December. Nominees had until noon on Sunday, January 12th to submit a letter of interest and fill out the required questionnaire.
On Sunday, Carbon County Republican Party Chairman Paul Metevier informed Bigfoot99 that only one person had successfully submitted their nominee packet in time: Interim County Clerk Lisa Smith.
The Republican Party will hold a special county clerk candidate selection meeting this Saturday, January 18th, at 11:00 a.m. in the Platte Valley Community Center in Saratoga to officially select nominees for board approval. With only one candidate, the public meeting is expected to be brief.
