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Nancy Workman was temporarily removed as Salt Lake County's first-ever mayor Tuesday as she gained a new title: criminal defendant.
District Attorney David Yocom charged Workman with two felonies for alleged misuse of taxpayer money - for her, a politically disastrous development that could cost the Republican mayor another term and, if convicted, up to 20 years in prison.
The County Council, in an emergency meeting Tuesday morning, placed Workman on paid leave and appointed her top deputy, Alan Dayton, as acting chief executive. He was sworn in immediately.
Workman, 63, was expected to be booked into jail today or Thursday and then released on her own recognizance.
Workman made no public appearances Tuesday, but said in a statement that she takes "full responsibility" for her actions and believes she will be "fully vindicated."
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She admits she should have followed a different procedure. "But to elevate those mistakes - which resulted in no personal gain to me or my family - to the level of criminal charges is sad. I was doing what I believed - and continue to believe - was right."
The District Attorney's Office, in court filings Tuesday, accused the mayor of misleading her staffers to create a "community liaison" position paid with Health Department funds. The two successive employees who served in that job actually did accounting work for the Murray-based South Valley Boys and Girls Club, where Workman's daughter is chief financial officer.
The charges follow a report by an independent, bipartisan panel of prosecutors, who found "sufficient credible evidence" to support two felonies against the mayor. The second-degree count is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine; the third-degree count could mean up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Workman - who huddled with political strategists Tuesday, according to her office - declined further comment until she talked with her attorney, Ron Yengich.
The mayor repeatedly has alleged that Yocom, a Democrat, is politically motivated in the case. On Tuesday, he again denied the accusation.
"The charge that I or my office has a political agenda in this matter is totally unfounded and, on a personal level, distasteful," Yocom said. "In this case, the mayor made a personal decision that circumvented state law, and I have a responsibility under the law to charge the criminal conduct the evidence warrants."
Yocom said he has not decided whether to ask a special prosecutor to take over the case.
Either way, Workman has vowed to "vigorously" continue her re-election campaign - despite calls by some prominent Republicans that she bow out. Leaders of the state Republican Party and county GOP issued a joint statement saying that they still back Workman.
"We are not prone to rush to judgement," the statement said. "Not only should Mayor Workman be able to have her day in court, but she should be given a clear opportunity to make her case before the public, something that is difficult for her in a highly charged political season. Accordingly, we shall not call on her to step down, nor resign from the race, before she has had that chance to make her case."
Political observers, though, give Workman little chance of winning a second term.
"If you predict the immediate future on the recent past, it's political death," said Tim Chambless, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Utah. "The average person in the public - who doesn't know the details but understands the difference between right and wrong and the criminal justice system to an extent - is going to decide to fire the incumbent and take a chance on a challenger."
State GOP Chairman Joe Cannon acknowledged Workman is not likely to prevail in November, but said she has a chance. "I'm not crazy. For her to win, it's going to be really, really hard."
Pointing to recent polls showing Democrat Peter Corroon leading Workman by 10 or more percentage points but without a clear majority, Cannon said that shows voters aren't that energized about Workman's main opponents.
Cannon said voters might say to themselves: "Maybe Nancy has a big problem here but you know what, she's got a good record, she's cut taxes. We're going to give her the benefit of the doubt on this other thing and see how that comes out."
Tim Bridgewater, a member of the GOP's central committee and two-time candidate for the 2nd Congressional District, said Republicans aren't ready to concede the race. He said Workman faces a tough campaign and must mount an impressive effort through TV and radio ads and mailers to defend herself.
"Republicans will rally around her and support her despite these challenges. Many people view them as being politically motivated by one of her strongest opponents."
About two hours after Workman was charged in 3rd District Court, a somber County Council voted 9-0 to put Workman on paid leave, a requirement of state law when an elected leader is charged with a felony relating to his or her office. The council made the move retroactive to the time the mayor was formally charged, about 9:30 a.m.
Workman's picture, which had graced many pages on the county's Web site, was quickly removed, along with a link to pages mentioning the mayor.
Democratic Councilman Randy Horiuchi, a longtime Workman friend, said "in the 12 years I've served this institution, today may be my saddest."
Added Republican Councilman Marv Hendrickson: "This is politics. This is the law. And let's move forward."
Charges against the mayor come after a contentious past four months of scandals that have toppled three high-ranking county officials, including two of Workman's top aides and former Auditor Craig Sorensen, an independently elected official who resigned and was charged with second-degree-felony misuse of public money.
Sorensen struck a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to attempted misuse of public money, a third-degree felony. He is awaiting sentencing.
Yocom said there have been no plea talks with Workman.
Corroon, Workman's Democratic opponent, called the situation "tragic," especially since voters agreed to change the form of government from a three-member commission to a nine-member council and mayor because they hoped "it would change for the better. It hasn't. County leadership is in desperate need of a genuine fresh start."
Unaffiliated candidate Merrill Cook, who has been elected as a Republican congressman previously, said the mayor may want to consider quitting the race. "I'm not calling on her to step down, but given the concern I know she has for other candidates, she probably should," Cook said. "But it's up to her."
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Tribune reporters Heather May and Derek P. Jensen contributed to this story.