Yocom, a Democrat, was criticized by Workman, a Republican, for playing "politics at its worst" when he correctly ordered police to investigate whether she had illegally used Salt Lake Valley Health Department funds to create a job that would assist her daughter's work at a nonprofit agency.

Letting a panel of four prosecutors from other counties - two Republicans and two Democrats - decide whether to file charges is appropriate, given Workman's accusation of partisan motive. She will be hard-pressed to find convincing fault with a probe completed by police officers and reviewed by a bipartisan quartet of prosecutors.

Workman's involvement with a county-funded position at the South Valley Boys and Girls Club, which is not a county agency but where Workman's daughter, Aisza, is the fiscal manager, may or may not be illegal or even inappropriate. That remains to be determined by the inquiry panel.

On the surface, there are questions serious enough to warrant an investigation. Chief among them: Why were the two Salt Lake County employees who have held the accounting position at the nonprofit club being paid by the county health department and reporting directly to the mayor, who signed their time sheets?

There may be, as Workman has said, no "serious wrongdoing." But it cannot be left to Workman to "fix it," as she promised, until all the evidence is gathered and reviewed by the panel Yocom has appointed.

Their findings should make clear what is needed to fix the situation and who should do the fixing.

Yocom's move to take himself out of the decision should quell his critics. It is Yocom's job to investigate allegations of misbehavior and possible illegalities. The fact that he and the mayor are on opposite sides of the political fence should not prevent him from doing the job he was elected to do.

If she has done nothing untoward, Workman should welcome an unbiased investigation to clear the air. The panel of prosecutors assembled by the district attorney should provide that sort of balanced review.