Hot Springs County Republicans sue State Party

Four members of the Hot Springs County Republican Party filed a lawsuit against the Wyoming Republican Party on Monday in Laramie County District Court.

The lawsuit seeks a declaratory judgment and injunctive relief against the state party for refusing to recognize the local party’s election results.

The four plaintiffs are the newly elected leaders of the HSC Republican Party, Chairman Joe Martinez, State Committeeman Phillip Scheel, Secretary Meri Ann Dorman and Vice Chairman Clay Van Antwerp. They are being represented by Clark Stith of Rock Springs.

The filing reads, “Plaintiffs file this complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief because, if the Wyoming Republican Party is allowed to overturn local county party elections through secret tribunals, it will have become a self-perpetuating, Soviet-style politburo rather (than) a functioning political party in a representative democracy.”

Then at Monday night’s local GOP meeting, a recount of votes, mandated by The State Resolutions Dispute Committee,was held which included the provisional ballots.

Final election results for the local committee are Brayden Harvey, Chairman; Clay VanAntwerp Vice Chairman, Cheryl Aguiar is State Committee Woman and Russell Lewis is State Committeman and Meri Ann Dorman is Secretary.

Vince Venata District Representative for the State Republican Party and Chairman of the Dispute Resolutions Committee was present at the meeting and described the dispute resolution procedure and state bylaws.

According to Chairman Harvey, following an executive session, a motion was made to censure Dorman regarding release of information. The motion failed.