Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman is presumed innocent, of course, but how does her campaign convince voters she deserves a second term?

It's a challenge, but one she vows to tackle "vigorously."

Her main opponents - Democrat Peter Corroon and independent Merrill Cook - say their campaigns haven't changed much since Workman was charged with misusing taxpayer money and placed on paid leave.

But the political landscape certainly has shifted.

Workman, who denies any criminal wrongdoing and downplays the charges as "politically motivated," is spending more than $125,000 on television spots and plans to make public appearances and hold news conferences on issues.

The embattled incumbent has less than two months to bounce back from a vehicle-abuse scandal and the criminal charges, which accuse her of using county money to provide her daughter with bookkeeping assistance at the South Valley Boys and Girls Club.

Workman - a Republican in a county with a GOP majority - has plunged in recent polls and now trails newcomer Corroon by double digits. In addition, she can expect more scandal coverage as court hearings (the first is scheduled for Monday morning) pop up in the countdown to Election Day.

"It's obviously a unique experience and opportunity," says Workman campaign manager Chris Bleak, adding that the campaign will focus on the mayor's positive record. "But I'm not turning a blind eye to the challenge that we have. Those things play a role in it. We have to incorporate those and plan for them and deal with them."

For example, Bleak says, the campaign didn't put much thought into Workman's jail booking photo. But knowing that it would appear in newspapers and on TV, the mayor dressed up - donning a red outfit with a small U.S. flag pin on her lapel. And she smiled.

"Most booking photos look like they've dragged the person in off the street," Bleak says. "The mayor continues to vigorously defend against these charges and she wants to show that she's a professional woman and have that image continue to resonate in everything she does."

Corroon insists his strategy hasn't been affected much by Workman's woes.

"Our whole thing all along was that I need to get my name out there. I'm the candidate that isn't well-known and now, more than ever, I need to get my name out there and get people to know who I am."

While some of his online ads mention "scandals," Corroon says the main focus will be on issues, not controversies.

He adds that he isn't focusing on any particular segment of voters. "We want everybody's vote and have all along."

Cook, a formerly elected GOP congressman, acknowledges he is courting Republicans more aggressively now. On Friday, he mentioned at an event that he was co-chairman of President Bush's 2000 campaign in Utah. And he plans to stake out some space at an upcoming GOP picnic.

"We're emphasizing things that we otherwise wouldn't have emphasized," Cook says.

But on the issues, he says he will continue to push for consolidating economic development efforts, streamlining the budget and making county offices nonpartisan.

"All of that stuff is the same," Cook says. "What does change is tactical [efforts]."

Workman's tactics will include an aggressive multimedia push.

"She will continue to be vigorous in public appearances and opportunities to meet people and talk to people," Bleak says. "[We will have] a vigorous grass-roots effort in terms of getting out the vote, a serious mail, radio and TV program."

The campaign's first commercial since the charges were filed doesn't specifically mention the felony allegations, but the people appearing do say she was "trying to do good" and that money would be better spent on the Boys and Girls Club than "wasted" on court.

Republican County Chairwoman Tiani Coleman says the party's challenge is to stick by its nominee without showing disrespect to the judicial process.

"The strategy is how do we make sure the public knows that the party absolutely follows the law, the party believes in following the law, the party absolutely believes in upholding to the highest standards of integrity and honesty in government employment," Coleman says. "People need to know that we absolutely are not condoning any misbehavior. What we are saying is that Mayor Workman is innocent until proven guilty and she needs to be able to have her day in court and let the public be the ones to decide."

Green Party candidate Diana Lee Hirschi and Personal Choice Party challenger F. Joseph Irish also are running for mayor.

tburr@sltrib.com