The Salt Lake County Republican Party on Wednesday filed papers to replace Workman on the Nov. 2 ballot with Ivory, a home builder and former Workman campaign leader. Ivory entered the race for Salt Lake County mayor this month as a write-in challenger after Workman, the embattled incumbent Republican, halted her bid for a second term this week. She used a doctor's note that party officials believe allows them to replace her.

Democratic leaders countered that the Republicans were "manipulating the rules" and threatened a lawsuit to stop it. Unaffiliated candidate Merrill Cook also said he was considering a suit.

But county GOP Chairwoman Tiani Coleman said it was important that voters have the ability to see and vote for a Republican nominee on the ballot.

"The law allows for this action, with an intent of that being that voters should be able to have a choice," Coleman said in a statement. "Parties should be represented, and straight-ticket voters should not be disenfranchised."

Ivory accepted the nomination, saying during a live KSL-TV debate Wednesday evening, "I'm much better off, on the ballot. . . . Frankly, I'm overwhelmed."

He noted that in his campaign now, "There's no stickers, but everything else is the same."

Clerk Sherrie Swensen, a Democrat, said the GOP's request would be looked at by the District Attorney's Office and state election officials.

"We're going to bump everything upstairs to our legal counsel," Swensen said, adding that she does not have legal authority to question the doctor's note.

State Democratic Chairman Donald Dunn said the party is consulting attorneys about a suit. He added that the move "doesn't pass the common-sense test."

"The voters of Utah, the voters and taxpayers of Salt Lake County should see this as simply what it is: The Republican Party trying to put a square peg in a round hole at the last minute, saying, 'Look, we've had so many political troubles with our party, we have got to find a way to save everything,' '' Dunn said.

Cook, a former GOP congressman, went further. He called the Republicans' move a "fraud, pure and simple."

"They are certainly not standing up for the rule of law or fair and honest elections," Cook said. He argued that the party needed its Central Committee to take such an action, but party leaders have skipped that step. "I think it violates their own bylaws."

Democrat Peter Corroon, the front-runner, said he would not legally challenge replacing Workman on the ballot, but he said Wednesday's action was wrong.

"People not only want decent government, they want decent campaigns," Corroon said. "They expect everyone to play by the rules."

Neither Workman nor her campaign returned calls for comment. The mayor has retained an attorney, David Jordan, to defend her in case her doctor's letter is challenged. Jordan previously has said there was no reason to question the doctor's opinion.

Though no one has publicly theorized that the GOP was colluding with Workman to get her off the ballot with a doctor's note, the Republican Party's statement vehemently denied any link.

"As far as we knew, she was going to stay in the race, and we categorically deny any foreknowledge of or cooperation in planning her announcement," Coleman said.

Coleman added that the decision to put Ivory on the ballot was made with "much deliberation and consultation" among the party's four officers and a clear majority of the executive committee. She said the party's Central Committee decided Oct. 5 to endorse Ivory, and that "validly express[es]" the party's will to put him on the ballot.

Still, Coleman has called for an emergency meeting of that committee on Oct. 26 to discuss the move.

Lawsuits could make things difficult, Swensen said.

"I hope if there are any challenges, they get it done soon," she said. "Right now, we're in limbo."

It would take at least 120 hours to replace or cover up Workman's name on the ballot, Swensen said, because there are more than 700 precincts in the county and thousands of voter machines.

tburr@sltrib.com